r 


SPORTING  DAYS  AND  SPORTING  WAYS 


SPORTING   DAYS 
AND  SPORTING  WAYS 


BY 

RALPH    NEVILL 


NEW  YORK 
BRENTANO'S 

1910 


All  rights  reserved 


PRINTED   BY  WILLIAM   BRENDON   AND  SOI> 
PLYMOUTH,   ENGLAND 


THE  Author  is  desirous  of  expressing  his  thanks  to 
Mr.  Mowbray  Morris  for  allowing  him  to  print  the 
hitherto  unpublished  verses  given  on  pages  6  and  7. 
He  also  wishes  to  acknowledge  the  great  courtesy  of 
Mr.  E.  North  Buxton,  Verderer  of  Epping  Forest, 
who  most  obligingly  supplied  him  with  information 
as  to  the  present  numbers  of  the  fallow  deer  which, 
thanks  to  judicious  preservation,  still  inhabit  the 
woodlands  into  which  they  were  introduced  many 
hundreds  of  years  ago. 


2022185 


SPORTING    DAYS 
AND    SPORTING    WAYS 


'  I  KHE  closing  years  of  the  eighteenth  century  and 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  may  be  called 
the  "  Golden  Age  "  of  the  man  of  pleasure  who  was 
then  a  recognised  type,  much  toleration  being  ex- 
tended to  the  most  unconventional  ways  and  doings. 
Sport,  often  of  a  somewhat  rough  description,  was 
the  life-long  occupation  of  a  large  number  of  people, 
and  not  infrequently  the  meaning  of  the  term  was 
stretched  to  include  much  that  would  to-day  seem 
unalluring,  if  not  positively  brutal.  London  was  an 
altogether  different  city  from  the  one  we  now  see. 
Luxury  was  only  for  the  privileged  few,  but  the 
populace  had  a  good  deal  of  rough  enjoyment  of  a 
sort  unknown  to  our  more  fastidious  age.  The 
ordinary  conveniences  of  life,  now  so  perfect,  left 
much  to  be  desired.  To  begin  with,  the  facilities 
for  locomotion  were  of  a  primitive  description,  the 
only  public  vehicles  being  the  old-fashioned  hackney 
coaches,  with  a  pair  of  horses  that  never  exceeded 
five  miles  an  hour.  There  were  no  omnibuses  or 
hansom  cabs,  the  first  of  the  former  having  been 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

introduced  in  1828  by  Shillibeer.  One  hundred  years 
ago  the  police  did  not  exist,  and  when  it  was  dark 
the  old  Charlies  went  their  dreary  rounds,  crying  the 
hour  and  the  state  of  the  weather.  Occasionally, 
as  they  slumbered  away  a  portion  of  the  night  in  their 
watch-boxes,  dashing  bucks,  elevated  by  a  festive 
evening,  would  let  them  quietly  down,  when,  like  a 
tortoise  under  his  shell,  the  unhappy  guardian  of  the 
public  peace  could  only  by  great  efforts  just  get  his 
head  out  and  call  for  assistance.  In  Saint  James's 
Street  stood  a  row  of  sedan  chairs,  which  the  dowagers 
of  Saint  James's  made  use  of  to  attend  their  whist 
parties,  and  these  sometimes  met  with  the  same  fate  as 
the  watchmen's  boxes.  After  dark  the  springing  of 
the  watchmen's  rattles  was  no  unusual  sound,  and 
many  a  Corinthian  passed  a  night  in  the  cells  of  Vine 
Street,  before  being  fined  the  following  morning  at  the 
Marlborough  Street  Police  Office.  Tyburnia  had  few 
or  no  dwellings  on  it,  and  Belgravia  had  not  sprung  into 
existence.  The  Five  Fields  where  Eaton  Square  and  its 
neighbourhood  now  stand  were  swampy  grounds,  into 
which  rubbish  was  cast,  and  the  Life  Guards  occa- 
sionally went  there  to  exercise.  At  Chalk  Farm,  a 
district  now  long  covered  with  houses,  was  a  nice 
country  inn  which  people  frequented  in  order  to 
enjoy  the  fresh  air  and  to  eat  syllabubs.  Chelsea 
bun-house  was  then  a  favourite  resort  well  known  to 
all  schoolboys ;  it  was  approached  by  green  fields. 
Regent  Street,  the  construction  of  which  was  author- 
ised by  an  Act  of  Parliament  in  1813,  was  considered 
a  great  novelty  as  a  public  thoroughfare.  Nash, 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  architect,  had  a  style  of  his  own  which  was  not 
entirely  devoid  of  merit.  His  strange  mixture  of 
Doric,  Ionic,  and  Corinthian  in  the  houses  was,  for 
want  of  a  better  designation,  called  Nash's  "  Positive 
Order."  New  Bond  Street  was  the  fashionable 
promenade,  and  there  the  lounger  was  sure  to  meet  his 
friends  and  acquaintances  after  four  in  the  after- 
noon. The  national  theatres  were  well  frequented, 
and  it  was  very  much  the  fashion  to  dine  at  the  Bed- 
ford and  Piazza  coffee-houses  in  Covent  Garden,  as 
being  in  close  proximity  to  them.  Such  places  were 
also  well  used  by  people  who  went  to  read  the 
newspapers,  which  then  often  contained  a  number  of 
quaint  announcements  characteristic  of  the  age.  The 
following,  for  instance,  appeared  in  a  London  paper  of 
April,  1 8 10  :  "  To  be  sold,  a  Sugar  Plantation,  in  the 
island  of  Grenada,  comprising  558  acres  of  land,  and 
230  slaves  upon  it,  including  several  valuable  trades- 
men !  The  situation  of  this  estate  is  so  healthy  that 
the  stock  of  slaves  has  for  the  last  thirty  years  been 
kept  up,  and  rather  increased,  without  purchasing  !  " 

The  reference  to  the  valuable  tradesmen  is  rather 
amusing. 

The  suburbs  around  London  were  then  highly 
rural  in  character,  and  the  first  attempts  to  impair 
their  sylvan  charm  were  stoutly  resisted.  When,  for 
instance,  a  manufactory  of  some  sort  or  other  was 
established  near  Twickenham  Common,  those  living 
in  the  neighbourhood  objected  to  the  offensive  smells 
which  the  works  in  question  produced,  and  a  lawsuit 
began  as  to  whether  they  constituted  a  nuisance. 
3 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

During  the  hearing  of  this  case  an  amusing  incident 
occurred.  Opposite  to  this  manufactory  dwelt  a 
superannuated  admiral,  who  was  supposed  not  to  have 
been  in  his  best  fighting  humour  on  some  important 
occasion  at  sea.  He  was  a  witness  in  the  case,  and 
having  already  declared  upon  oath  that  the  stench  of 
the  works  was  intolerable,  he  was  required  to  say  what 
this  intolerable  smell  resembled.  It  is  not  always 
easy  to  hit  upon  a  comparison,  and  the  veteran  was 
puzzled ;  he  could  only  repeat,  "  Like,  like — I  don't 
know  what  it's  like  ;  it's  like  the  horridest  smell  I  ever 
smelt  in  my  life  !  " 

"  Was  it  like  gunpowder,  Admiral  ?  "  said  the 
malicious  counsel. 

The  whole  court  saw  the  point,  and  amidst  general 
laughter  the  witness  retreated  to  his  place. 

Not  only  the  life,  but  the  dress  and  even  the 
language  of  Londoners  differed  very  much  from 
what  they  are  to-day.  For  a  considerable  period  the 
curious  habit  of  mispronouncing  "  w  "  was  widely 
spread  amongst  all  sections  of  the  population  except 
the  aristocracy. 

This  lasted  well  into  the  middle  of  the  century,  as 
Dickens's  novels  show. 

The  mispronunciation  is  well  illustrated  by  the 
following  dialogue — a  short  conversation  between  a 
pursy  liveryman  and  his  servant. 

MASTER. — Villiam,  I  vaunts  my  vig. 

BOY. — Vich  vig,  Sar  ? 

MASTER. — Vy,  the  vite  vig  in  the  vooden  vig-box, 
vich  I  vore  last  Vensday  at  the  Westry. 
4 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  fFays 

It  frequently  produced  ludicrous  effects.  At 
Brighton,  for  instance,  the  public  crier  once  gave 
notice  that  there  had  been  found  under  the  rocks, 
about  a  mile  to  the  east,  a  black-spotted  patent  lace 
"  whale." 

A  feature  of  old  London  life  were  the  sporting 
hotels,  which,  even  up  to  about  some  fifty  years 
ago  and  later,  were  recognised  resorts  for  fashionable 
sportsmen.  At  Hatchett's  and  the  Blue  Posts  were 
to  be  found  the  sporting  squires  come  up  to  London 
for  a  taste  of  town  life ;  whilst  Limmer's  and  Long's, 
the  latter  of  which  still  exists  in  an  altered  form,  were 
much  frequented  by  men  about  town.  The  notorious 
Jack  Mytton  was  especially  fond  of  this  latter  resort. 
Arriving  in  town  one  day,  the  squire  of  Halston, 
who  happened  to  be  particularly  anxious  to  hunt 
with  Lord  Derby's  staghounds,  which  met  that  day  at 
Caterham  Common,  took  another  sportsman's  cabri- 
olet which  was  waiting  outside  this  hotel  whilst  its 
owner  had  gone  in  to  talk  to  Sir  Godfrey  Webster. 
Mytton,  who  had  at  first  contemplated  seizing  Sir 
Godfrey's  chariot  and  four,  also  waiting  at  the 
Clifford  Street  entrance,  made  prisoners  of  war  of 
both  cab  and  tiger,  and,  almost  as  much  to  the 
astonishment  of  the  latter  as  of  the  unfortunate 
black  horse  between  the  shafts,  proceeded  forthwith 
to  Smitham  Bottom  at  about  the  pace  of  an  express 
train.  This  unceremonious  proceeding,  far  from 
leading  to  trouble,  originated  a  warm  friendship 
between  the  eccentric  squire  and  the  owner  of  the 
cabriolet. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  ffays 

Jammer's  retained  its  sanded  floor  up  to  compara- 
tively recent  years,  when  it  was  rebuilt,  and  as  a 
result  lost  its  sporting  traditions  and  clientele.  There 
was  a  famous  head  waiter  at  old  Limmer's — John 
Collins  by  name — no  doubt  the  well-known  drink 
was  called  after  him.  A  celebrated  song  about  this 
character  was  very  popular  at  one  period.  According 
to  a  tradition  prevalent  at  Limmer's,  in  Whyte- 
Melville's  time,  it  was  written  by  Charles  and 
Frank  Sheridan,  in  order  to  while  away  a  rainy 
morning.  The  names  of  nearly  all  the  frequenters 
of  the  place  were  introduced.  It  was  never  published, 
but  seems  to  have  been  freely  circulated  in  manu- 
script, and  used  to  be  sung  to  the  well-known  air  of 
Jenny  Jones.  The  following  stanzas  are  all  that  have 
survived  : 

My  name  U  John  Collins,  head-waiter  at  Limmer's, 
The  comer  of  Conduit  Street,  Hanorer  Square, 

My  chief  occupation  is  filling  of  brimmer* 
To  solace  yoong  gentlemen  laden  with  care. 

Mr*.  Cole  tell*  kid  glorea  for  to  go  to  the  opera, 
While  Peter  sit*  scratching  his  head  in  the  bar ; 

And  Henry,  I  think,  »hould  behare  his  self  properer, 
Wholl  gire  on  the  tly  a  Haranna  cigar  ? 

O«r  Peter  he  wished  to  be  clerk  at  Saint  George*!; 

B*  the  Rector  he  said  that  those  sort  of  men, 
Who  could  callously  riew  oar  yoang  gentlemen'*  orgie*, 

Would  be  calling  Coming  instead  of  Amen. 

That  he'd  register  marriage  as  BranJj  and  IT  our, 

And  indecently  enter  a  birth  as  a  Go; 
And  in  short,  tho*  in  Hearen  they  hare  Peter  for  porter, 

Twas  not  that  tort  of  Peter— «o  he  would  not  do. 
6 


dJMrMsK  Dtp 


i 
Arfr*^a 

r«Q*i,b*trmhesxtT:  I'm  grey,  b« 
to  fo»  xad  few  wish  IK 


The  only  surviving  stanza  of  a  number  dealing  with 
habitues  of  Limmer's  is  as  follows  : 

There**  Lewis  Rkardo*  so  full  of  brrakt 

Aid  sweet  Spencer  Cowper ,  a  blood  I  declare  : 

There's  profligate  Punch,  who's  so  load  of  his  fetch* 
And  conkey  Jem  Howard,  who  ne'er  knows  despair. 

Punch  was  an  old  Eton  nickname  of  Charles  Greville 
(the  Clerk  of  the  Council),  known  in  later  days  as 
The  Cruncher,  from  his  manner  and  temper. 

Lord  Waterford  was  a  constant  frequenter  of  the 
sporting  hostelries  of  London,  and  at  Limmer's  con- 
ceived many  of  his  wild  jokes. 

The  eccentricities  of  this  nobleman  were  indeed 
numberless.  He  painted  the  Melton  toll-bar  a 
bright  red,  put  aniseed  on  the  hoofs  of  a  parson's 
horse,  and  hunted  the  terrified  divine  with  blood- 
hounds. On  another  occasion  he  put  a  donkey  into 
the  bed  of  a  stranger  at  an  inn.  He  took  ft  hunting- 
box  in  the  shires,  and  amused  himself  with  shooting 
out  the  eyes  of  the  family  portraits  with  a  pistol. 
He  smashed  a  very  valuable  French  clock  on  the 
staircase  at  Crockford's  with  a  blow  of  his  fist,  and 
solemnly  proposed  to  one  of  the  first  railway  com- 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

panics  in  Ireland  to  start  two  engines  in  opposite 
directions  on  the  same  line  in  order  that  he  might 
witness  the  smash,  for  which  he  proposed  to  pay. 

Very  handy  with  his  fists,  Lord  Waterford  used  to 
sally  out  with  Lord  Methuen  and  the  two  brothers, 
Billy  and  Ffolliot  Duff,  the  party  being  never  so 
happy  as  when  engaging  butchers  and  draymen  in 
fistic  encounters.  Lord  Methuen  was  a  man  of 
prodigious  physique,  and  in  his  day  was  reputed  to  have 
raised  a  fifteen-stone  man  from  a  table  with  one  hand. 
Billy  Duff,  on  the  other  hand,  was  of  light  and  square 
build,  but  a  very  capable  boxer.  He  fought  a  sturdy 
butcher  once  in  the  middle  of  Pall  Mall,  when  the 
butcher,  deceived  by  Duff's  appearance,  received  a 
severe  thrashing. 

At  times  Lord  Waterford  was  foolhardy  almost 
beyond  belief.  On  board  his  yacht,  the  Charlotte,  in 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,  whilst  it  was  blowing  a  gale,  this 
scion  of  a  mercurial  stock  happened  to  lose  his  cap, 
which  was  carried  away  by  a  gust  of  wind  whilst 
he  was  on  deck  watching  the  sailors  shorten  sail. 

"  Hullo,"  said  he  to  the  captain,  "  there's  my  tile 
gone ;  lower  away  the  boat  and  send  some  men  to 
get  it." 

"  My  lord,"  respectfully  urged  his  skipper,  "  no 
boat  could  live  in  such  a  sea." 

"  The  deuce  it  can't,"  was  the  rejoinder ;  "  then  I'll 
see  whether  I  can  or  not " ;  and  as  he  spoke  he  leapt 
from  the  taffrail  into  the  seething  waters.  It  was 
now  no  time  for  hesitation,  and  the  captain  at  once 
caused  a  boat  to  be  lowered,  and  went  to  attempt  the 
8 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

rescue  of  his  reckless  master,  who  was  eventually 
reached  about  a  mile  astern  of  the  vessel  in  an  ex- 
hausted condition,  but  clutching  his  cap  ! 

As  a  horseman  Lord  Waterford  was  daring  to  the 
verge  of  insanity  whilst  having  little  idea  of  saving  his 
mount.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  was  a  veritable  miracle 
that  he  lived  till  he  was  forty-eight,  at  which  age 
(in  March,  1859),  having  put  a  horse  three  times  at  a 
fence,  it  eventually  fell  and  rolled  over  him. 

A  favourite  joke  of  Mytton's  and  other  wild  sparks 
was  to  take  timid  people  out  in  a  gig  and  then  wilfully 
overturn  it.  Gigs  indeed  were  held  accountable  for 
numberless  fractures,  amputations,  and  deaths,  for  gig 
driving  was  highly  popular  with  thousands  who  knew 
nothing  about  it.  Knowledge,  however,  in  this  in- 
stance was  often  put  to  defiance,  and  several  old  and 
experienced  road-coachmen  were  killed  out  of  gigs. 

Old  gentlemen  shook  their  heads  at  the  doings  of 
wild  charioteers,  and  many  pranks  were  played  upon 
timid  people. 

A  Staffordshire  squire  meeting  his  nephew  one  day 
in  London,  they  began  to  compare  notes,  and  it 
appeared  that  each  was  bound  for  Oxford  the  next 
morning.  "  How  do  you  travel  ?  "  said  the  nephew. 
"  I  shall  post  it,"  replied  the  uncle.  "  You  had  better 
come  with  me,  in  my  gig,"  rejoined  the  nephew ; 
"  we  shall  do  it  comfortably  in  ten  hours."  "  Hang 
your  gig !  "  said  the  old  man.  "  I  hate  the  very  sight 
of  them."  "  Oh,"  replied  the  young  one,  "  mine  is 
the  quietest  horse  in  England.  A  lighted  cracker 
tied  to  his  tail  would  not  alarm  him." 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

On  hearing  this,  and  ruminating  on  the  expense  of 
posting,  the  old  gentleman  consented  to  the  proposal, 
and  at  eight  o'clock  the  next  morning  they  were  under 
way.  When  they  had  got  out  of  the  park  the  uncle 
told  his  nephew  that  he  had  been  brushing  up  his 
recollections,  and  he  believed  he  could  say  that  that 
was  only  the  fifth  time  he  ever  had  been  in  a  gig  in  his 
life.  "  Oh,"  said  the  nephew,  "  my  horse  beats  you 
by  chalks,  for  he  has  never  before  been  in  one  at  all." 
It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  old  gentleman  began  to 
claw  (as  it  was  called  on  the  road),  and  was  out  of  the 
gig  in  the  twinkling  of  his  eye. 

A  volume  might  be  filled  up  with  the  escapades  of 
amateur  coachmen,  wild  and  often  eccentric  beyond 
belief. 

One  dashing  buck  chose  a  wife  merely  from  having 
caught  sight  of  her  from  his  box-seat.  This  impulsive 
blade,  passing  through  Clarges  Street  in  his  chariot 
early  one  morning,  was  struck  with  the  appearance 
of  a  smart  girl,  washing  the  steps  of  the  doorway. 
He  stopped  and,  having  entered  into  five  minutes' 
conversation  with  her,  persuaded  this  nymph  of  the 
mop  to  step  into  the  carriage  with  him,  in  her  dripping 
state,  and  the  next  morning  conveyed  her  in  better 
trim  to  church  and  married  her ! 

Amateur  coachmen  were  highly  tenacious  of  the 
rights  of  the  road.  Their  curious  independence  of 
spirit  is  well  shown  by  an  incident  which  occurred 
in  1814,  the  chief  actor  in  which  was  a  gentleman 
driving  a  barouche  and  four  in  a  narrow  street  at 
Windsor.  Making  an  effort  to  turn  at  the  time  the 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  If^ays 

Queen's  coach  was  coming  down  the  street  from  the 
Castle,  in  which  were  her  Majesty,  two  of  the  Prin- 
cesses, and  the  Duke  of  York,  the  Queen's  horses 
unavoidably  ran  against  the  leaders  of  the  barouche. 
Some  confusion  and  considerable  alarm  to  the  Royal 
Family  ensued  before  her  Majesty's  carriage  could 
pass.  No  apology  having  been  offered  by  the  amateur 
whip,  the  Duke  of  York  sent  and  pointed  out  the 
necessity  of  such  a  step.  This,  however,  was  peremp- 
torily refused,  the  driver  insisting  that  he  was  strictly 
right  on  every  principle  of  true  coachmanship,  and 
therefore,  instead  of  apologising  for  what  he  deemed 
no  offence,  he  felt  himself  entitled  to  require  that  her 
Majesty's  coachman  should  be  discharged  for  his  un- 
skilful conduct  in  the  exercise  of  his  profession. 
Eventually  an  apology  was  offered  by  a  friend,  the 
driver  resolutely  declining  to  make  the  slightest  move 
in  this  direction. 

The  great  majority  of  men  of  fashion  were  thor- 
oughly at  home  on  the  box-seat,  and  the  Prince 
Regent  himself  was  celebrated  as  an  expert  whip. 
His  extravagance  in  connection  with  horses  was 
absolutely  unbridled,  and  as  a  consequence  a  farrier 
of  the  name  of  Layton,  who  lived  at  Walham  Green, 
when  the  Prince's  debts  were  being  liquidated  by 
Parliament,  sent  in  a  claim  for  shoeing  and  doctoring 
horses  which  amounted  to  no  less  than  eleven  thou- 
sand pounds.  One-third  of  this  amount  was  dis- 
allowed. 

Layton,  who  is  said  to  have  been  as  ignorant  of  the 
principles  of  the  veterinary  art  as  any  ploughman  in 
ii 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

England,  and  to  have  ruined  as  many  horses'  feet  as 
would  fill  St.  Paul's,  by  the  help  of  much  effrontery, 
wearing  a  scarlet  coat,  and  riding  thoroughbred 
horses  (he  made  it  a  common  practice  to  ride  to 
Brighton  and  back  in  a  day),  carried  everything  before 
him. 

In  his  latter  years  George  IV  abandoned  high- 
mettled  horseflesh,  and  was  content  to  jog  along 
in  a  pony  chaise.  Driving  with  Lady  Conyngham 
one  fine  day,  the  two  beautiful  Highland  animals, 
overpowered  by  the  weight  of  Royalty,  turned  restive, 
and  would  not  stir  an  inch.  In  vain  did  the  Sovereign 
apply  the  lash ;  in  vain  did  the  attendants  pull  at 
them.  Even  the  soft  and  rosy  palm  of  her  ladyship, 
which  could  do  wonders  in  the  coaxing  and  persuasive 
line,  had  no  effect.  The  attendants  were  out  of 
breath,  and  the  lady  was  out  of  patience  ;  but  the 
merry  monarch  lost  not  his  temper,  but  coolly  ordered 
one  of  his  servants  to  fetch  another  carriage.  "It 
would  require  an  Act  of  Parliament,"  said  he,  "  to 
move  these  Northern  rebels ;  but  I  must  say  one 
thing  in  their  favour — they  are  true  game,  for  they 
seem  as  if  they  would  rather  die  than  run." 

It  was  George  IV  who,  though  a  great  dandy  in  his 
youth,  contributed  chiefly,  it  was  said,  towards  making 
gentlemen's  clothes  inartistic  and  dull  in  colour.  He 
first  introduced  black  neckcloths.  His  choice  of  dress 
was  much  influenced  by  the  famous  tailor,  Stultz, 
who  left  such  a  large  fortune. 

Near  Mannheim  is  a  costly  Gothic  monument  erected 
to  his  memory.  Stultz  was  very  charitable  to  his 

12 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

countrymen,  and  endowed  and  built  a  hospital,  in 
consideration  of  which  the  Grand  Duke  of  Baden 
created  him  a  baron. 

Men  about  town,  with  plenty  of  spare  time  upon 
their  hands,  were  always  up  to  jokes  of  one  kind  or 
another.  A  confirmed  joker  of  this  sort,  entering  a 
music  shop,  was  told  by  the  proprietor  that  his  assort- 
ment of  instruments  could  not  be  beat.  "  I  am 
sorry  for  that,"  replied  the  wag,  "for  then  I  shall 
have  to  go  elsewhere — I  want  a  drum !  "  Elaborate 
practical  jokes  were  very  popular. 

About  the  middle  of  the  last  century  Londoners 
were  much  mystified  by  the  appearance  of  a  phantom 
coach.  It  was  drawn  by  four  white  horses,  and  was  of 
old-fashioned  construction,  of  the  time  of  George  III. 
The  coachman  and  two  footmen  were  in  the  dress  of 
that  period,  with  cocked  hats,  powdered  hair,  and  bag 
wigs.  It  used  to  drive  slowly  into  the  Park  at  Hyde 
Park  Corner,  and  then  down  one  of  the  drives.  It 
created  a  great  sensation,  and  was  quite  the  talk  of  the 
day,  numbers  of  people  going  into  the  Park  on  the 
chance  of  seeing  it.  The  mystery  was  at  last  solved, 
and  it  was  discovered  that  it  was  done  by  some  medical 
students  at  St.  George's  Hospital,  by  means  of  lights 
and  reflecting  mirrors. 

The  following  joke,  perpetrated  at  a  time  when 
whiskers  were  fashionable,  was  certainly  of  a  most 
original  kind. 

A  certain  young  dandy,  who  prided  himself  upon 
his  appearance,  excited  a  good  deal  of  amusement 
amongst  his  acquaintances  by  his  love  of  dress. 
13 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

His  fingers  were  hooped  with  rings,  his  shirt  bosom 
was  decked  with  a  magnificent  breastpin ;  coat, 
hat,  vest,  and  boots  were  all  immaculate,  he  wore  kid 
gloves  of  remarkable  whiteness  ;  his  hair  was  oiled 
and  dressed  in  the  latest  and  best  style ;  and,  to 
complete  his  killing  appearance,  he  sported  an  enor- 
mous pair  of  whiskers,  of  which  he  was  about  as 
proud  as  a  young  cat  is  of  her  tail  when  she  first  dis- 
covers she  has  one ! 

Chancing  to  be  in  conversation  with  some  friends, 
one  of  whom  had  refused  a  good  offer  for  a  horse,  the 
dandy  said  that  for  his  part  he  would  be  ready  to 
sell  anything  he  had  if  he  could  make  money  out 
of  it. 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  some  one,  "  not  anything ;  for 
instance,  you  wouldn't  sell  your  whiskers  ?  " 

"  Oh,  yes,  I  would  for  a  good  price,  but  I  don't 
suppose  any  one  would  want  to  buy  them,  for,  except 
to  myself,  they  would  be  of  no  use.  If,  for  instance, 
I  was  offered  fifty  pounds,  I  would  sell  them  like  a 
shot." 

"  Well,  that's  cheap  enough,"  said  his  friend,  who 
was  a  business  man,  "  you'll  sell  your  whiskers  for 
fifty  pounds  ?  " 

"  I  will." 

"  Both  of  them  ?  " 

"  Both  of  them." 

"  I'll  take  them  !    When  can  I  have  them  ?  " 

"  Any  time  you  choose  to  call  for  them." 

"  Very  well — they're  mine.     I  think  I  shall  double 
my  money  on  them  in  the  end." 
14 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

The  sale  was  concluded,  the  dandy  writing  on  a 
piece  of  paper,  "  Received  .£50  for  my  whiskers, 
to  be  worn  and  taken  care  of  by  me,  and  delivered  up 
when  called  for." 

The  fifty  was  paid,  and  the  seller  went  off  in  high 
glee,  telling  every  one  he  met  of  the  good  bargain 
he  had  made. 

The  purchaser  meanwhile,  though  much  chaffed, 
said: 

"  Who  laughs  last  laughs  best ;  I'll  make  a  profit 
on  those  whiskers  yet." 

A  week  passed,  and  the  dandy  still  had  his  whiskers, 
though  whenever  he  met  his  friend  he  asked  him  when 
he  intended  to  claim  his  purchases.  "  That's  all  right," 
would  be  the  reply ;  "  take  care  of  my  whiskers,  I  shall 
call  for  them  some  day,  you  may  be  sure." 

A  short  time  later,  just  before  a  great  ball  to  which 
the  dandy  was  going,  the  purchaser  of  the  whiskers 
arrived  in  the  latter's  rooms,  and  was  met  by  the 
remark  : 

"  Come  for  your  whiskers,  I  suppose  ;  I  am  always 
ready  for  you,  as  you  know." 

"  Perhaps,"  was  the  reply.  "  Well,  now  I  think  of 
it,  the  present  would  be  as  good  a  time  as  any  other  ; 
let's  send  for  a  barber  and  have  them  off." 

The  dandy  was  rather  upset  at  this. 

"  You  couldn't  wait  until  to-morrow,  could  you  ?  " 
he  asked  hesitatingly.  "  There's  a  ball  to-night,  you 
know " 

"  To  be  sure  there  is,  and  I  think  you  ought  to  go 
with  a  clean  face  ;  at  all  events,  I  don't  see  any  reason 
15 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

why  you  should  expect  to  wear  my  whiskers  at  that 
ball." 

After  a  short  discussion,  however,  a  barber  was 
sent  for,  and  the  dandy  having  rather  sulkily  sat 
down,  in  a  few  moments  his  cheeks  were  in  a  perfect 
foam  of  lather.  The  barber  was  just  about  to  com- 
mence operations  when  the  purchaser  of  the  whiskers 
said,  "  Stop,"  upon  which  the  man  quietly  put  up 
his  razor,  while  the  dandy  started  up  from  his  chair  in 
something  very  much  resembling  a  passion. 

"  This  isn't  fair,"  he  exclaimed  ;  "  you've  claimed 
your  whiskers — take  them." 

"  I  believe  a  man  has  a  right  to  do  as  he 
pleases  with  his  own  property,"  remarked  his  friend, 
and  walked  out,  leaving  the  poor  man  washing  his 
face. 

In  a  short  time  the  story  had  got  about,  and  several 
mutual  friends  told  the  business  man  that  the  joke 
was  being  carried  too  far,  with  the  result  that  he 
eventually  agreed  that  it  was  time  for  him  to  reap  his 
crop  the  next  day.  He  would,  he  so  promised,  write 
to  the  dandy  to  come  round  to  a  barber's,  where  the 
operation  could  be  quietly  performed.  To  this  place 
the  victim  duly  came,  and,  much  to  his  disgust,  found 
it  full  of  spectators. 

"  I'm  in  a  hurry,"  said  he ;  "  so  be  quick.  Fve 
got  to  take  some  ladies  out  to-day." 

"  Set  to  work,  then,"  said  his  torturer  to  the  barber. 
"  Don't  detain  the  gentleman  any  longer  than  you 
need." 

The  lathering  was  soon  over,  and  with  about  three 
16 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

strokes  of  the  razor  one  side  of  his  face  was  deprived 
of  its  ornament. 

"  Come,  come,"  said  the  dandy,  "  push  ahead — 
there  is  no  time  to  be  lost — let  the  gentleman  have  his 
whiskers — he  is  impatient." 

The  purchaser,  however,  now  suddenly  arrested 
further  operations. 

"  After  all,"  said  he,  very  coolly,  "  I'm  in  no  sort 
of  hurry  myself;  and  as  you  are  in  a  great  one,  and 
I  hate  to  keep  ladies  waiting,  I'll  not  take  the  other 
whisker  to-day." 

The  poor  dandy  blustered,  begged,  and  argued 
all  in  vain  ;  his  persecutor  was  inflexible,  and  absolutely 
declined  to  take  the  remaining  whisker.  At  length, 
becoming  desperate,  he  began,  amidst  the  loudly 
expressed  mirth  of  the  crowd,  to  propose  terms  of 
compromise — first  offering  the  buyer  ten  pounds, 
then  twenty,  thirty,  forty,  fifty !  to  take  off  the 
remaining  whisker.  The  latter  said  firmly,  "  My 
dear  sir,  there  is  no  use  talking ;  I  insist  on  your 
wearing  that  whisker  for  me  for  a  month  or  two." 

"  What  will  you  take  for  the  whiskers  ?  "  at  length 
asked  the  poor  man.  "  Won't  you  sell  them  back  to 
me  ?  " 

"  Ah,"  was  the  reply,  "  now  you  begin  to  talk  as 
a  business  man  should.  Yes,  I  bought  them  as  a 
speculation.  I'll  sell  them  if  I  can  obtain  a  good 
price." 

"  What  is  your  price  ?  " 

"  One  hundred  pounds — must  double  my  money  !  " 

"  Nothing  less  ?  " 

c  17 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  Not  a  farthing  less — and  I'm  not  anxious  to 
sell  even  at  that  price." 

"Well,  I'll  take  them,"  he  groaned.  "There's 
your  money ;  and  here,  barber,  shave  off  this  whisker. 
I'll  never  wear  the  infernal  things  again." 

The  dandies  and  bucks  were,  of  course,  great 
admirers  of  the  fair  sex,  a  large  number  of  whom,  it 
would  appear,  did  not  resent  their  attentions. 

It  is  all  very  well  to  speak  of  Platonic  respect  being 
the  highest  tribute  which  can  be  paid  to  the  fair  sex. 
Moralists  may  like  to  fancy  such  things,  but  philoso- 
phers will  continue  to  doubt. 

Old  Q  was  the  object  of  perpetual  abuse,  yet  so 
long  as  the  name  of  woman  is  remembered,  his  will 
never  be  forgotten.  His  attachment  to  the  fair  sex 
was  so  ardent  that  it  bade  defiance  to  time,  or  his 
hour-glass ;  and  long  after  the  hoary  frost  of  age  had 
silvered  his  locks,  the  sight  of  a  fine  woman  appeared  to 
give  him  new  life. 

In  old  age,  when  the  weather  was  fine  and  sunny, 
the  old  man  would  come  out  on  to  his  balcony  in 
Piccadilly  to  the  amusement  of  the  passers-by. 

Here — an  emaciated  figure,  sheltered  by  a  parasol — 
he  would  sit  waiting  to  feast  his  eyes  upon  some  pretty 
face,  which,  when  it  appeared,  was  subjected  to  much 
ogling. 

He  is  said,  indeed,  to  have  kept  a  pony  and  a  groom 
in  constant  readiness,  in  order  to  follow  and  ascertain 
the  residence  of  any  fair  one  whose  attractions  particu- 
larly caught  his  fancy  !  This  groom  was  called  a  tiger, 
which  originated  a  term  since  commonly  applied  to  a 

18 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

servant  of  this  kind.  The  old  man  was  deaf  in  one 
ear,  blind  in  one  eye,  nearly  toothless,  and  labouring 
under  multiplied  infirmities ;  but  the  propensities  of 
his  prime  still  pursued  him. 

Up  to  the  day  of  his  death,  at  a  very  advanced  age, 
Old  Q  continued  to  coquette  with  the  granddaughters 
of  those  with  whom  he  had  flirted  in  his  youth.  This 
is  alluded  to  in  a  humorous  epitaph  written  during 
the  susceptible  Duke's  lifetime. 

And  what  is  all  this  grand  to  do 
That  runs  each  street  and  alley  thro'  ? 
'Tis  the  departure  of  Old  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly. 

The  King,  God  bless  him  !  gave  a  whew ! 
"  Two  Dukes  just  dead — a  third  gone  too  ! 
What !  what !  could  nothing  save  Old  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly  ?  " 

The  jockey  boys,  Newmarket's  crew, 

Who  know  a  little  thing  or  two, 

Cry  out — "  He's  done  !     We've  done  Old  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly  !  " 

The  Monsieurs  and  Signoras  too, 
Like  cats  in  love,  set  up  their  mew, 
"  Ah  morto,  morto,  pov'ro  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly !  " 

Poll,  Peggy,  Catherine,  Patty,  Sue, 
Descendants  of  old  dames  he  knew, 
All  mourn  your  tutor,  ancient  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly. 

"  Thank  Heaven  !  thank  Heaven  !  "  exclaims  Miss  Prue  ; 
"  My  mother  and  grand-mother  too, 
May  now  walk  safe  from  that  vile  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly." 
19 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Old  Nick,  he  whisk'd  his  tail  so  blue, 

And  grinn'd,  and  leer'd,  and  look'd  askew — 

"  O  ho  !  "  says  he,  "  I've  got  my  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly." 

On  wings  of  sulphur  down  he  flew  : 
All  London,  take  your  last  adieu — 
There,  there,  away  he  claws  Old  Q, 

The  Star  of  Piccadilly. 

And  now,  this  may  be  said  of  Q — 
That  long  he  ran  all  folly  thro', 
For  ever  seeking  something  new  : 
He  neither  car'd  for  me,  nor  you, 
But,  to  engagements  strictly  true, 
At  last — he  gave  the  devil  his  due  ; 
And  died  a  boy  of  eighty-two — 

Poor  Q  of  Piccadilly. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  amorous  old  Duke  lived 
four  years  more,  dying  in  1810,  aged  eighty-six. 

He  used  to  say,  "  London  is,  in  my  opinion,  the 
best  place  in  the  world  to  pass  nine  months  of  the 
year  in  ;  and  I  don't  know  anywhere  you  could  spend 
the  other  three  better  !  "  a  sentiment  which  the 
well-known  Captain  Morris  re-echoed  in  the  famous 
lines  : 

In  town  let  me  live  then,  in  town  let  me  die ; 
For  in  truth  I  can't  relish  the  country,  not  I. 
If  one  must  have  a  villa  in  summer  to  dwell 
Oh  !  give  me  the  sweet  shady  side  of  Pall  Mall. 

These  lines,  of  course,  were  written  at  a  time  when 
numbers  of  West  End  men  thought  of  nothing  but 
pleasure,  and  thoroughly  despised  the  clerk-like 
drudgery  of  arithmetical  calculations.  The  man  of 
fashion,  indeed,  seldom  subjected  himself  to  the 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

mortification  of  entering  into  an  investigation  of  his 
concerns,  and  was,  therefore,  without  the  misery  of 
knowing  how  many  thousands  worse  than  nothing 
he  might  be.  From  the  earliest  stages  of  his  existence 
such  an  individual  was  generally  a  stranger  to  self- 
denial,  and,  as  he  had  never  laboured  under  even 
momentary  restraint,  so  he  never  found  it  necessary 
to  bestow  a  condescending  reflection  upon  the  state  of 
his  affairs,  till  a  melancholy  reminder  from  the 
steward,  the  banker,  or  the  lawyer  denoted  the  game  to 
be  up,  and  the  advent  of  that  pecuniary  annihilation 
which  extravagance  had  rendered  inevitable. 

Nevertheless,  though  squandering  an  inheritance 
is  no  doubt  highly  reprehensible,  it  is  an  open  question 
whether  the  prodigal  has  not  the  best  of  it  as  compared 
with  a  miser. 

The  former  starts  with  many  thousands,  and  dies 
with  nothing.  The  latter  starts  with  nothing,  and 
dies  worth  many  thousands.  Presumably  the  prodigal 
is  the  happier  of  the  two.  True,  he  has  spent  a 
fortune ;  but  on  the  other  hand  the  miser  has  only 
left  one  :  the  prodigal  has  lived  rich  to  die  poor  ;  the 
miser  has  lived  poor  to  die  rich  ;  and,  if  the  prodigal 
quits  life  in  debt  to  others,  the  miser  quits  it  still 
deeper  in  debt  to  himself. 

More  toleration  was  formerly  extended  to  ruined 
spendthrifts  than  is  now  the  case,  and  comfortable 
sinecures  were  often  comparatively  easily  obtained 
by  those  having  some  political  influence.  Owing 
to  the  small  amount  of  effort  or  work  required  from 
the  holders  of  such  snug  posts,  they  were  exactly 

21 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

suited  to  the  capacities  of  the  ruined  man  about 
town. 

Sometimes  also  impecunious  men  of  fashion  would 
be  given  a  chance  by  some  well-meaning  friend  who 
obtained  for  them  a  land  agency  or  some  similar 
employment;  but  the  majority  of  such  characters 
were  in  reality  no  good  for  any  serious  work,  and, 
as  a  wag  said,  resembled  nothing  so  much  as  coffin 
makers,  because  they  never  worked  twice  for  the 
same  customer. 

In  old  days,  when  the  laws  against  usury  were  still  in 
force,  spendthrifts  had  to  resort  to  all  sorts  of  ex- 
pedients in  order  to  raise  money.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  only  way  in  which  money-lenders  could  extort 
a  large  rate  of  interest  was  by  lending  on  post  obits, 
by  way  of  annuity,  or  on  bills  at  short  dates.  In  the 
latter  case,  the  borrower  had  to  purchase  all  imaginable 
articles,  for  which  he  gave  a  bill  at  a  longer  date  than 
that  for  the  cash  advanced.  One  extravagant  man 
about  town,  very  hard  pressed,  going  to  a  celebrated 
tobacconist  to  raise  the  wind,  only  obtained  what  he 
wanted  on  condition  that  he  bought  a  large  number  of 
pipes  and  snuff-boxes.  His  necessities  forced  him  to 
consent ;  but  when  he  saw  what  an  immense  supply 
of  them  was  produced,  he  was  not  a  little  astonished, 
and  wondered  where  they  could  be  put. 

Another  reckless  spark,  well  known  as  one  of  the 
most  agreeable  men  of  his  day,  through  a  financial 
transaction  with  a  usurer  reluctantly  came  into  posses- 
sion of  a  number  of  brick-kilns  near  London,  and 
when  his  creditors  pressed  for  a  settlement  of  their 

22 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

claims,  gave  them  orders  for  so  many  thousand 
bricks,  instead  of  cheques  on  his  banker.  Rumour 
declared  that  the  same  individual,  having  exhausted  his 
credit  with  the  tradespeople  who  dealt  in  the  common 
necessaries  of  life,  and  wishing  to  invite  a  friend  to  his 
house,  wrote,  asking  him  to  "  come  and  dine  at  half- 
past  seven,  on  turtle  and  venison,  as  the  fishmonger 
and  butcher  will  stand  it  no  longer." 

This  individual,  on  being  told  of  the  death  of  a 
rich  old  widow  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine,  exclaimed, 
"  What  a  fine  match  she  would  have  made  two  days 
ago  !  " 

"  Will  you  lend  me  a  hundred  ?  "  said  the  same  man 
to  an  acquaintance. 

"  Can't  possibly  do  it,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  never 
lend  a  man  money  the  second  time,  when  he  dis- 
appoints me  the  first." 

"  That's  a  mistake,  for  I  paid  you  the  fifty  I  had 
last  week." 

"  The  very  reason.  I  never  expected  it  back,  and 
you  disappointed  me,  which  is  why  I  can't  do  it. 
Very  sorry,  but  principle  is  principle."  And  so  the 
spendthrift  was  foiled. 

Another  particularly  impudent  fellow  of  the  same 
type  lost  his  pocket-book — a  rather  good  one — and 
advertised  : 

"  Lost,  yesterday,  a  small  blue  morocco  pocket- 
book,  containing  a  variety  of  papers — among  the  rest 
a  tailor's  bill  for  £20.  Any  person  finding  the  same 
will  please  to  pay  the  bill,  and  nothing  more  will  be 
said." 

23 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

A  cynical  individual  being  once  asked  by  a  friend 
whether  he  could  lend  this  spendthrift  a  certain  sum 
with  any  chance  of  seeing  it  again,  replied,  "  What ! 
lend  him  money  ?  Why,  you  might  give  him  an 
emetic  and  he  wouldn't  return  it." 

Many  men  about  town  were  quite  shameless  in  their 
dealings  with  tradesmen.  One  of  the  former,  who 
was  not  reckoned  among  the  number  of  the  best 
paymasters,  received  a  clever  rebuke  from  his  hatter, 
after  he  had  ordered  one  of  the  hats  in  the  shop  to 
be  sent  home  upon  credit.  This  was  politely  refused, 
upon  which  the  spark  exclaimed,  "  What !  do  you 
refuse  to  give  me  credit  for  a  hat  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  replied  the  hatter,  "  I  have  another  trifling 
objection  besides  that  of  merely  giving  you  credit — 
I  should  not  like  to  be  under  the  necessity  of  bowing 
to  my  own  hat  till  you  may  choose  to  pay  for  it." 

Brummell's  method  of  putting  off  irate  creditors 
was  characteristic  of  the  man.  When  at  his  wits'  end 
how  to  keep  going,  he  said  to  a  friend,  "  Whenever 
any  one  of  my  creditors  calls  upon  me,  the  moment  he 
enters  the  room  I  commence  an  amusing  conversation, 
and  tell  him  anecdotes  that  I  think  will  interest  him. 
This  has  hitherto  succeeded  very  well,  for  I  divert 
their  attention  from  the  subject  that  brings  them 
to  me.  We  shake  hands,  and  part  on  good  terms, 
but  my  stock-in-trade  is  exhausted,  and  I  am  now 
completely  used  up.  I  have  nothing  left  to  tell  them, 
and  now  1  don't  know  what  to  do." 

The  greatest  house  for  procuring  loans  and  advances 
of  money  that  existed  in  the  London  of  those  days 
24 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

was  the  well-known  firm  of  Howard  and  Gibbs. 
The  former  had  accumulated  an  immense  fortune, 
which  he  suddenly  lost  by  the  folly  or  mismanage- 
ment of  his  partner,  as  it  was  said  at  the  time.  Not 
only  all  the  Albany,  but  many  of  the  houses  in  and 
about  Old  Burlington  and  Cork  Streets,  belonged  to 
him,  besides  a  splendid  estate  in  Yorkshire.  He  lived 
in  princely  style,  and  the  Duke  of  York,  Lord  Wellesley, 
and  the  greatest  men  of  the  day  were  frequent  guests 
at  his  table.  Howard  went  to  Paris  on  a  visit  to 
Laffitte,  the  banker,  supposing  himself  to  be  a  very 
wealthy  man,  when  one  morning  he  received  a  letter 
from  his  partner  announcing  his  utter  ruin,  and  with 
it  that  of  numerous  depositors  of  small  sums,  who 
had  been  tempted  by  a  higher  rate  of  interest  to  lodge 
them  in  the  hands  of  the  firm. 

Howard's  story  was  curious.  He  was  educated  in  a 
charity  school  at  Oxford,  from  which  he  was  taken 
into  a  hairdresser's  establishment  as  an  apprentice. 
After  remaining  there  the  usual  time,  he  took  a  shop 
of  his  own,  and  having  saved  a  small  sum  of  money, 
he  gave  it  up,  and  started  off  on  foot  to  the  metropolis, 
in  the  hope  of  bettering  his  condition.  The  first 
night  of  his  arrival  in  town,  not  knowing  where  to  lay 
his  head,  he  slept  on  the  steps  of  a  house  at  the  corner 
of  Hamilton  Place,  Piccadilly  ;  and  when  he  awoke  the 
next  morning,  he  made  the  best  of  his  way  to  Seven 
Dials,  in  search  of  an  occupation.  The  keeper  of  a 
beershop  engaged  him  to  sweep  out  the  bar,  and  he 
gave  so  much  satisfaction  that  he  was  occupied  in 
various  ways  by  persons  who  frequented  the  house. 
25 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Amongst  these  was  a  lawyer's  clerk,  who,  observing 
the  boy's  assiduity  and  respectable  appearance,  asked 
him  if  he  could  write,  and  on  his  answering  in  the 
affirmative,  he  employed  him  in  copying  some  deeds. 

Somehow  or  other,  the  clerk's  employer  became 
acquainted  with  young  Howard,  and  took  him  into 
the  office,  where  he  became  a  favourite,  from  his  steady 
business  habits  and  regular  conduct.  A  rich  client, 
who  had  found  him  useful  on  many  occasions,  then 
took  him  in  hand,  and  started  him  on  his  own  account. 
By  dint  of  attention  and  hard  work  he  obtained 
so  much  business  that  he  became  one  of  the  great 
capitalists  of  the  day,  and  vast  sums  of  money  passed 
through  his  hands,  in  loans  to  needy  men  about  town. 
He  dealt  largely  in  annuities  and  post  obits. 

Being  arrested  for  debt  was  no  extraordinary 
incident  in  the  life  of  those  who  had  gone  the  pace ; 
the  King's  Bench  was  always  full  of  debtors,  many  of 
whom,  however,  led  a  fairly  comfortable  life.  Further, 
those  having  generous  friends  willing  to  stand  security 
for  them  could  obtain  the  privilege  of  residing 
without  the  walls  of  the  prison,  in  what  went  by  the 
name  of  "  The  Rules "  ;  that  is,  within  a  circuit 
of  about  half  a  mile.  On  the  other  hand,  the  power 
of  arrest  was  frequently  much  abused,  as  an  individual 
had  nothing  to  do  but  swear  a  debt  against  whoever 
it  might  be,  and  he  was  at  once  placed  in  "  durance 
vile."  Many  debtors,  however,  were  quite  content 
with  their  captivity,  and  delighted  to  remain  in 
"  The  Rules,"  and  set  their  creditors  at  defiance. 
Some  even  lived  in  good  style,  and  gave  dinner  parties 
26 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  their  friends  and  acquaintances.  They  were  not 
altogether  deprived  of  amusement,  inasmuch  as  the 
Surrey  Theatre  was  within  the  prescribed  limits ; 
but  if  by  any  chance  they  passed  the  line  of  demarca- 
tion, and  it  could  be  proved,  the  creditors  could  claim 
the  amount  of  their  debts  from  the  Governor  of  the 
Bench,  who,  of  course,  repaid  himself  at  the  cost  of 
those  who  had  stood  security. 

After  an  arrest  had  been  effected,  it  was  customary 
for  the  sheriff's  officer  to  convey  his  prisoner  first 
of  all  to  a  "  sponging-house,"  kept  by  himself,  in  or 
about  Chancery  Lane,  where  he  could  remain  as  long 
as  he  had  the  means  of  paying  for  his  board  and  lodging. 
The  charges  in  such  places  were  extortionate,  the 
whole  system  being  one  of  unblushing  robbery. 

Lloyd,  the  poet,  was,  like  other  poets,  subject  to 
occasional  familiarities  from  the  shoulder-tapping 
fraternity.  On  being  ushered  into  his  apartment 
in  a  sponging-house,  he  enquired,  with  affected 
simplicity,  what  the  huge  bars  at  the  window  were 
intended  for. 

"  Why,  to  keep  you  in,  to  be  sure,"  replied  Cerberus. 

"  Strange,"  rejoined  the  poet,  "  that  you  should 
take  such  pains  to  keep  me  in,  who  could  never  keep 
myself  out." 

At  one  time  the  Isle  of  Man  was  a  debtors'  paradise, 
an  asylum  where  all  were  free  from  arrest  for  debts 
contracted  elsewhere,  and  in  consequence  of  this  the 
capital,  Douglas,  wore  a  very  strange  social  aspect. 
It  was  indeed  more  like  a  stronghold  of  corsairs  and 
banditti  than  a  simple  fishing  hamlet.  The  greater 
27 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

proportion  of  those  who  had  recourse  to  it,  to  avoid 
impertinent  importunities,  were  Milesian  gentlemen. 
Many  of  these  were  individuals  of  rank  and  large 
estates  fully  secured  against  seizure,  and  the  owners 
being  themselves  out  of  all  legal  jurisdiction,  their 
creditors  were  treated  as  the  garrison  of  an  impregnable 
fortress  are  wont  to  handle  their  besiegers.  Re- 
taliating, as  desperate  men  will  when  set  at  defiance, 
the  result  was  a  condition  of  things  without  a  parallel 
in  the  civilised  world.  Douglas  was  in  a  constant  state 
of  beleaguerment,  while  every  town  in  the  island  was 
subject  to  descents  and  invasions  for  the  purpose  of 
forcibly  carrying  off  the  recusants,  and  placing  them 
where  they  could  be  made  amenable  to  civil  process. 
Upon  the  pier  of  the  Manx  capital  bands  of  "  gentle- 
men in  difficulties  "  would  promenade  armed  to  the 
teeth  ;  while  off  the  harbour  lay  desperate-looking 
craft,  manned  by  wild  crews  willing  and  eager  for  any 
violence.  These  would  occasionally  land,  and  attempt 
by  open  force  to  get  possession  of  their  quarry,  with 
the  result  that  fatal  frays  were  common. 

In  a  number  of  cases,  however,  so  wily  were  the 
defaulting  exiles  that  stratagem  was  deemed  to  afford 
the  best  chance  of  effecting  their  capture.  At  a 
certain  period  one  of  the  regular  topics  of  the  place 
was  the  devices  employed  to  entrap  a  certain  Irish 
baronet  whom  the  bailiffs  were  always  after.  A 
man  of  great  strength,  indomitable  resolution,  and 
up  to  every  artifice,  he  somehow  always  contrived  to 
evade  them.  Like  most  Irishmen,  however,  he  was 
very  susceptible,  and  eventually  a  lady,  who  for  the 
28 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

moment  was  engaging  his  not  very  serious  affections, 
was  brought  over  by  some  of  the  principal  creditors, 
who  gave  her  some  money  and  the  promise  of  more. 
Everything  being  settled,  it  was  arranged  that  the 
victim  should  be  induced  to  indulge  her  in  a  boating 
excursion,  when  the  boatmen,  being  properly  selected, 
and  a  wherry  hired,  which  was  to  cruise  off  the  harbour 
of  Castletown,  a  good  return  would  forthwith  be 
made  to  the  capias  of  the  Sheriff  of  Dublin. "  All  went 
well,  and  the  old  fox  was  wheedled  into  the  trap. 

Once  in  the  boat,  however,  he  realised  the  stratagem. 

"  You're  no  Manxmen,"  said  he  to  the  boatmen. 

"  We're  Dunleary  boys,  your  honour,  going  to  take 
your  honour  to  where  you'll  be  made  welcome." 

"  And  pray  what  are  you  to  be  paid  for  this  job  ? " 

"  Ten  guineas  for  the  trip  and  forty  more  when 
your  honour  is  safely  delivered." 

The  baronet  now  said  he  would  give  a  hundred  to  be 
put  ashore  again,  which  offer  the  boatmen  could  not 
resist.  Accordingly,  the  captive  wrote  out  an  order 
on  his  agent  at  Castletown — the  boat  being  meanwhile 
rowed  towards  the  landing-place — which,  on  arrival, 
was,  together  with  a  note,  handed  to  one  of  the  men, 
who  was  to  go  and  fetch  the  hundred  whilst  the 
baronet  remained  in  the  boat.  In  reality,  however, 
the  note  and  order  were  directed  to  no  agent,  but  to 
a  sharp  attorney  well  used  to  the  baronet's  ways.  It 
ran  :  "  I'm  in  the  Devil's  own  scrape.  The  scoundrel 
who  gives  you  this  is  one  of  a  party  by  whom  I  was 
kidnapped  an  hour  ago,  and  am  still  detained  prisoner 
until  you  pay  him  a  hundred  pounds,  for  which  he 
29 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

imagines  this  the  order.  Keep  him,  and  send  round  a 
well-manned  yawl  to  the  extreme  of  the  harbour, 
so  that  they  cannot,  on  the  alarm  being  given,  run 
out  with  me  to  sea.  I  will  pay  liberally  for  the  rescue." 
The  affair  ended  by  the  Dunleary  boys  being  soundly 
cudgelled,  and  sent  adrift,  after  having  had  a  ducking 
to  cool  their  ardour. 

An  extraordinary  individual  was  the  adventurer  who 
in  the  early  part  of  the  last  century  masqueraded  in 
Dublin  as  Baron  Von  Hoffman,  Earl  of  Sirony,  A.D.C. 
to  General  Von  Blucher,  and  other  dignities  "  too 
numerous  to  mention."  His  run,  under  all  the  circum- 
stances, was  probably  as  remarkable  a  one  as  the 
annals  of  modern  fraud  and  gullibility  afford  example 
of.  "  Alone  he  did  it,"  without  confederate,  without 
outward  card  of  introduction.  He  captivated  ladies 
with  ease,  and  was  hail  fellow  well  met  with  the 
choicest  spirits  with  whom  it  pleased  him  to  associate. 
Speaking  English  fluently,  he  was  by  his  own  account 
a  Hungarian  noble  of  vast  possessions,  visiting  Ireland 
for  amusement  and  instruction  after  a  series  of 
campaigns  with  Blucher.  He  was  unquestionably  a 
great  master  of  blarney,  largely  aided  by  effrontery. 

Possessed  of  talents  of  no  mean  order,  united  to 
inventive  faculties  enough  to  endow  a  score  of  writers 
of  fiction,  no  surer  test  of  his  genius  could  be  adduced 
than  the  attention  which  he  could  at  all  seasons 
command  for  the  narratives  of  his  adventures,  that 
out-Heroded  the  wildest  of  Eastern  legends.  After 
dinner,  while  yet  the  ladies  remained  at  table,  was 
the  time  generally  selected  for  these  stories. 
30 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  If^ays 

The  baron,  who  probably  never  possessed  a  shilling 
of  his  own  whilst  in  Ireland,  feasted  sumptuously 
every  day,  rode  his  chargers,  dressed  en  'prince,  and 
actually  engaged  the  cousin  of  a  well-known  Irish 
member  (remarkable  for  the  energy  and  classical 
character  of  his  forensic  and  senatorial  oratory)  as 
private  secretary  and  domestic  physician,  at  a  salary 
of  five  hundred  a  year  !  However,  the  day  of  reckon- 
ing came  ;  prison,  the  insolvent  court,  and  all  the 
grim  concomitants  of  ruin  finally  overwhelmed  him. 

Nothing  could  be  more  wild  or  careless  than  some 
of  the  Irish  officers.  One  of  them  in  the  West  Indies, 
having  formed  a  tender  connection  there,  and  not 
wishing  to  return  to  his  family,  wrote  home  to  his 
wife  at  Kilkenny  that  he  had  died  the  year  before 
of  yellow  fever,  and  therefore  hoped  she  would  not 
expect  his  return. 

About  a  hundred  years  ago  Dublin  was  the  scene 
of  much  wild  life. 

Old  and  young,  rich  and  poor,  seemed  to  live  but 
to  one  end — to  make  the  most  of  time  present. 
The  landed  interest  got  no  rents ;  but  dinners,  routs, 
and  entertainments  were  the  order  of  the  day  in 
Merrion  Square  and  Stephen's  Green.  Ready  money 
and  the  shopkeeper  had  long  been  strangers.  Never- 
theless, he  was  the  incarnation  of  junketing  and 
jollity.  In  spite  of  the  general  atmosphere  of  enjoy- 
ment which  prevailed,  misery  abounded  in  every 
public  spot,  and  actually  besieged  the  doors  of  the 
shops  in  the  public  streets.  But  these  living  scare- 
crows were  the  merriest  of  all  the  merry ;  you  could 
31 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

not  tell  one  of  them  to  get  out  of  your  way  but  he 
had  a  witticism  at  your  service;  and  if  the  jest  were 
pointed  at  his  own  misery,  with  so  much  the  greater 
zest  did  he  appear  to  give  utterance  to  it.  "  Oh, 
may  the  blessin*  of  the  Holy  Virgin  attind  your 
honour's  beautiful  honour  night  and  day,  I  pray  !  " 
said  an  old  beldam,  a  monstrous  thing  of  shreds  and 
patches,  standing  so  that  all  hope  of  escape  without 
a  reply  was  cut  off.  "  More  glory  to  you,  and  throw  a 
halfpinny  to  an  ould  woman  that's  fasting  from 
everything  but  sin  this  mornin'." 

"  And  whisky,"  said  the  individual  accosted,  for 
there  was  no  mistaking  the  air  to  which  her  recitative 
was  set. 

"  Ah,  thin,  jewel,"  was  her  reply  ;  "  don't  blame  a 
poor  ould  crature  for  taking  a  drop  iv  comfort  iv  a 
could  day ;  sure,  if  it  wasn't  for  the  sup  of  something 
warm,  like  the  cloak  that's  hanging  about  me  shoulders, 
I'd  die  of  the  stitches." 

The  hairbreadth  escapes  of  the  careless  spendthrifts 
of  other  days  from  bailiffs  were  numberless  in  their 
variety.  An  Irishman  of  this  sort  once  made  a  pecu- 
liarly bold  and  successful  dash  for  liberty  in  Dublin, 
to  which  urgent  necessity  had  called  him  from  an 
enforced  retreat.  Near  Phoenix  Park  there  was  then  an 
old  inn  called  the  "  Sun,"  in  Queen  Street.  There 
the  impecunious  sportsman  stabled  his  nag,  and  having 
explained  his  case — a  matter  at  that  time  likely  to  have 
enlisted  every  Pat  breathing  in  his  favour — he  ordered 
his  horse,  except  when  feeding,  to  be  kept  ready 
bridled  and  saddled,  with  his  head  turned  round, 
32 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  then,  by  all  the  back  slums  possible,  went  to  his 
appointment.  The  interview  over,  he  was  returning 
rejoicing  on  his  way,  when,  just  above  the  Four  Courts 
on  Ormond  Quay,  two  fellows  rushed  out  and,  to  use 
his  own  phrase,  basely  kidnapped  him.  He  was  so 
taken  by  surprise  that  he  was  powerless,  and  proceeded 
with  them  up  the  quay  to  durance  vile.  It  was  a 
terribly  hot  day,  and  the  captive,  pleading  fatigue, 
begged  of  them  to  let  him  sit  down  between  them 
on  the  parapet  which  overhangs  the  Liffey ;  they  did 
so,  and  also  complied  with  his  request  to  be  allowed 
to  get  at  his  pocket-handkerchief.  The  moment  his 
hands  were  loose,  he  threw  his  arms,  with  all  his  force, 
back  across  their  bodies.  The  right-hand  man  obeyed 
the  mandate  by  going  at  once  over  the  parapet ;  the 
left  staggered  only,  but  this  unpleasant  prisoner  soon 
triumphed,  and,  throwing  him  over  after  the  other, 
he  set  off  full  tilt,  no  one  offering  to  molest  him,  for  the 
stables.  Throwing  down  his  money,  he  found  his  nag 
all  ready,  and  was  soon  out  of  the  chance  of  pursuit. 
It  luckily  being  low  water,  the  "  thieving  kidnappers  " 
escaped  with  a  sound  ducking. 

A  singular  character  of  much  the  same  kind  was  a 
Major  Fitzgerald  who,  though  of  good  birth  and 
pursuing  a  regular  profession,  possessed  the  singularity 
of  never  allowing  a  King's  writ  to  be  served  upon 
him.  It  was,  indeed,  common  amongst  the  Dublin 
bailiffs,  when  judgment  had  been  obtained  against 
any  one  who  it  was  hinted  might  give  trouble,  for 
them  to  reply,  "  Oh,  it  will  be  all  right,  barring  Major 
Fitzgerald."  At  one  time  the  latter  resided  at  a 
D  33 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

place  called  Cappagh,  about  four  miles  out  of  Dublin, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Grand  Canal,  opposite  the  pretty 
village  of  Clondalkin.  It  was  a  small  house,  with  its 
back  to  the  towing-path,  on  which  looked  out  one 
small  window.  Out  of  this  many  were  the  escapes 
the  Major  had  made  from  his  enemies.  However, 
they  got  used  to  this,  and  one  day,  as  he  was  returning 
from  Dublin,  his  creditors  had  mustered  in  such 
force,  and  placed  so  many  sentries,  that  capture  seemed 
inevitable.  They  had,  however,  forgotten  one  thing, 
and  that  was  to  occupy  the  other  side.  The  love  of 
liberty  soon  caused  the  Major  to  make  up  his  mind. 
The  Grand  Canal  was  properly  so  called,  it  being 
double  in  breadth  and  depth  the  ordinary  dimensions. 
As  soon  as  the  other  bank  was  ascertained  to  be  clear, 
in  went  the  Major,  horse  and  gig,  with  the  result 
that  he  eventually  gained  the  opposite  bank  with 
great  peril  and  difficulty,  leaving  everything  else  to 
fate. 

It  was  at  one  time  highly  dangerous  to  serve  writs 
in  certain  parts  of  Ireland,  notably  in  Connemara, 
where  very  rough  treatment  was  not  infrequently 
meted  out  to  obnoxious  officers  of  the  law. 

On  one  occasion  two  of  these  men,  more  daring 
than  their  brethren,  having  undertaken  to  serve  a 
writ  on  a  popular  landed  proprietor  (for  there  were 
popular  landlords  in  those  days),  the  inhabitants  of 
the  districts  assembled  from  all  quarters  and,  as  the 
luckless  officers  proceeded,  cut  off  their  retreat. 
When  the  debtor's  mansion  was  reached,  the  crowd, 
civil  as  yet,  closed  round.  The  officers  then  produced 
34 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

their  credentials,  which  created  a  most  unfavourable 
impression,  and,  after  some  parley,  so  infuriated 
did  the  people  become  that  they  condemned  one 
of  the  officers  to  swallow  the  writ,  seal  and  all,  on 
the  spot,  crammed  him  into  a  sack  and  hurled  him 
over  a  bridge  into  the  river — the  other  one  escaped 
with  his  life. 


35 


II 


'T^O-DAY  a  very  large  number  of  men  engaged  in 
business  in  the  City  are  first-rate  sportsmen — 
fine  shots  and  good  men  across  a  country  ;  but  this  is 
a  comparatively  recent  development.  A  very  different 
state  of  affairs  prevailed  in  the  past,  when  there 
was  much  jeering  at  what  was  called  cockney 
sport,  and  there  was  some  justification.  In  the 
eighteenth  and  early  nineteenth  centuries,  on  the 
first  of  September,  detachments  of  sporting  cock- 
neys used  to  march  out  of  London  before  daybreak, 
much  to  the  annoyance  of  all  keepers  of  poultry 
for  miles  round  the  metropolis.  A  few  of  the  most 
determined  shots,  it  was  always  said,  slept  on  their 
arms  the  night  before,  that  they  might  not  be  caught 
napping  by  their  more  vigilant  associates.  Fearful 
of  this  invasion,  the  cow-keepers  and  little  farmers 
in  the  neighbourhoods  of  Hackney,  Islington,  Clapham, 
and  other  suburbs  very  prudently  drove  in  all  their 
pigs  and  poultry,  to  prevent  their  falling  into  the 
power  of  the  common  enemy  !  As  a  rule  the  platoon 
firing  commenced  with  the  dawn  of  day,  and  what 
was  humorously  called  the  free-warren  of  Lambeth 
Marsh  and  Coldbath  Fields  rang  with  the  sounds  of 
shots.  The  whole  line  round  the  suburbs  went  to  it 
with  a  will,  keeping  up  a  running  fight  till  broad  noon- 
36 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

day,  when  the  fire  slackened,  and  the  more  successful 
sportsmen,  flushed  with  victory,  marched  into  canton- 
ments in  the  many  conveniently  situated  public- 
houses. 

Ludicrous  misadventures  were  common.  In  1795, 
on  September  the  first,  three  cockney  sportsmen, 
determined  to  be  first  in  the  field,  set  out  before 
dawn,  and  started  what  they  fondly  hoped  was  a 
partridge,  near  the  Middlesex  Hospital.  They  instantly 
discharged  their  rusty  blunderbusses  all  at  once  and 
to  their  delight  brought  down  the  game,  which, 
however,  on  examination  proved,  alas !  to  be  the 
watchman's  dog.  As  a  consequence  of  their  tragic 
mistake  all  three  of  them  were  taken  into  custody. 

Another  cockney  sportsman,  out  for  a  day's  shooting 
in  a  more  likely  district,  was  wearily  trudging  over 
the  ground,  when  at  last  a  partridge  got  up,  just  under 
his  feet.  Pop  !  went  the  gun,  but  the  partridge 
flew  in  gallant  style  over  the  hedge,  only  dropping  a 
few  feathers  by  the  way.  Over  leaped  the  sportsman, 
expecting  to  find  his  prize  at  the  other  side.  No 
sign  of  the  bird  !  nothing  but  a  labourer  dragging  a 
plough  after  him. 

"  I  say  !  "  cried  the  cit,  "  you  have  not  seen  a  part- 
ridge fall  this  way,  have  you  ?  " 

"  Not  the  very  smallest  one,  sir." 

"  It  is  very  odd,  for  I  certainly  saw  the  feathers 
flying !  " 

"  Oh  !    I  saw  them  too,"  quickly  responded  the 
man  with  a  knowing  look,  "  and  they  flew  so  well  that 
they  carried  the  flesh  with  them." 
37 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Many  a  joke  was  played  on  such  "sportsmen," 
one  of  whom,  being  asked  by  some  friends  to  shoot 
near  London  after  trudging  for  hours  over  ground 
barren  of  game,  to  his  delight  came  upon  three  hares 
motionless  in  a  glade.  Taking  cautious  aim  the 
cockney  fired,  and  to  his  delight  found  that  all  three 
were  dead.  This  satisfaction,  however,  on  his  return 
home  was  greatly  mitigated  by  the  discovery  of  a 
game-dealer's  card  in  the  ear  of  each  hare,  and  as  it 
was  made  by  the  lady  of  his  heart,  to  whom  he  had 
presented  his  "bag,"  he  was  exposed  to  much  chaff 
from  those  who  had  placed  the  dead  hares  in  position. 

Many  a  cockney  shot,  however,  would  quite  frankly 
buy  game  when  he  could  not  find  anything  to  shoot. 

If  birds  should  be  shy,  my  dear  Sammy, 

And  the  devil  a  one  be  brought  down, 
I've  secured  a  fine  brace  for  my  mammy 

From  our  neighbour,  the  poulterer  Brown. 

Some  maintained  a  reputation  as  great  "  shots "  at 
considerable  expense  to  their  pockets,  making  it  a 
point  of  honour  never  to  return  home  without  a 
well-filled  bag,  the  contents  of  which  were  generally 
drawn  from  a  supplementary  supply  always  to  be 
obtained  at  the  hovel  of  an  old  poacher  well  known 
to  a  number  of  sporting  clients. 

The  sort  of  sporting  dogs  employed  by  such  sports- 
men may  be  realised  from  the  comments  made 
by  a  cockney  on  a  book  which  purported  to  deal 
with  the  subject  and  enumerated  the  breeds  generally 
valued  by  sportsmen. 

38 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  A  fig,"  said  he,  "  for  his  pointers  and  setters. 
If  he  had  axed  me,  I  would  have  told  him  all  about 
it,  that  I  have  a  brace  of  the  best  pointers  going, 
and  they  are  of  my  own  training,  and,  though  I 
say  it,  they  have  had  a  finished  edication.  One  of 
them  is  a  bull-bitch,  and  the  other  is  a  dog  between  a 
Dutch  pug  and  a  mastiff.  My  dogs,  I  allow,  are  not 
taught  to  point  at  partridges,  but  they  will  stand 
well  at  sparrows,  robins,  and  greenfinches." 

Besides  the  possessors  of  guns  who  deemed  them- 
selves sportsmen,  and  ranged  the  suburban  districts  for 
game  at  the  proper  season,  almost  all  the  year  round 
the  fields,  which  then  came  close  up  to  the  town, 
were  on  every  Sunday  full  of  idle  fellows  out  after 
small  birds,  and  such  gunners  endangered  people's 
lives,  being  brutally  careless,  as  a  rule.  For  instance, 
three  men  shooting  larks  in  Battersea  Fields  followed  the 
birds  so  near  to  a  house  that,  on  firing,  one  of  them 
shot  a  little  boy  who  was  playing  at  a  short  distance 
from  the  door.  As  soon  as  the  cries  of  the  child 
convinced  the  man  of  his  imprudence,  he  threw  down 
the  gun  and  ran  away.  He  was  pursued  without 
success ;  but  his  two  companions  were  taken  into 
custody. 

There  was  formerly  some  fair  shooting  to  be  had 
within  reach  of  the  metropolis,  and  eighty  or  ninety 
years  ago  game  was  to  be  found  in  places  which  now 
form  part  of  the  town  itself. 

Men  alive  not  so  many  years  ago  remembered  going 
snipe  shooting  on  the  site  of  Belgrave  Square,  and  at 
the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  there  was 

39 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

free  shooting  to  be  enjoyed  within  ten  miles  of 
London  Bridge.  The  outskirts  of  Penge  Common 
(then  strictly  preserved  by  Mr.  Cator),  and  the  coverts 
adjoining  those  of  Lord  Gwydyr,  near  Croydon, 
were  favourite  haunts  of  City  sportsmen,  one  of 
whom  boasted  that,  without  having  permission  from  a 
solitary  landed  proprietor,  he  had  in  one  lucky 
season  with  a  single  barrel  killed  upwards  of  two 
hundred  head  in  the  counties  of  Kent  and  Surrey. 

As  late  as  1842  some  sportsmen  succeeded  in  making 
a  bag  of  ten  brace  of  partridges  in  September  on 
Wimbledon  Common,  where  old  birds  still  occa- 
sionally bred.  The  sedgy  bottoms  of  this  common 
were  in  winter  then  well  frequented  by  snipe,  and  one 
cockney — a  sedulous  pounder  after  the  long-bills — 
generally  obtained  about  a  hundred  couple  in  the 
course  of  a  season. 

As  the  common  was  considered  neutral  territory, 
there  was  continual  shooting  there  during  the  season, 
and  at  times  a  good  many  pheasants  which  had  strayed 
from  the  preserves  of  Wimbledon  Park  were  secured 
by  City  sportsmen. 

Whilst  the  neighbourhood  of  London  abounded 
in  sportsmen  who  had  little  claim  to  such  an  appella- 
tion, there  were  also  some  really  good  shots.  Such  a 
one  was  John  Holt,  of  Tottenham,  who  died  in  1831, 
even  when  near  eighty-five  years  old  a  typical 
sportsman  of  the  real  old  school,  who  scorned  to  go 
out  shooting  with  a  double-barrelled  gun,  and  held 
battues  in  utter  abhorrence.  He  hated  new-fangled 
innovations,  and  repudiated  detonators — "  flint  and 
40 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

steel,  and  straight  powder,"  he  was  wont  to  say, 
"were  all  that  a  fair  sportsman  required." 

Certainly  very  extraordinary  shots  were  sometimes 
made  by  these  single-barrel  guns.  In  October,  1819, 
for  instance,  a  Northamptonshire  gentleman  with 
one  shot  killed  six  partridges  out  of  a  covey  of  seven, 
whilst  the  surviving  bird  was  wounded  ! 

Double-barrelled  guns  were  also  considered  highly 
dangerous  by  many  sportsmen.  In  1818,  on  the 
occasion  of  an  accident  to  the  Rev.  C.  Colton,  whose 
double-barrel  had  burst  with  disastrous  results,  a 
great  sporting  authority  wrote  : 

"  Gentlemen  cannot  be  too  often  warned  that, 
while  they  increase,  by  the  use  of  the  double-barrelled 
fowling-piece,  their  chance  of  execution  only  twofold 
in  the  field,  they  may  increase,  at  the  same  time, 
perhaps  a  hundredfold,  the  chance  of  injuring  them- 
selves." 

Be  this  as  it  may,  Mr.  Holt,  as  has  been  said, 
resolutely  declined  to  abandon  his  single-barrel,  with 
which  he  did  great  execution. 

His  favourite  sport  was  woodcock  shooting,  at  which 
he  was  considered  an  expert.  From  a  game  book 
which  he  kept  for  a  series  of  years  it  appears  that 
upwards  of  six  hundred  couple  fell  to  his  gun.  The 
coverts  which  afforded  him  this,  his  favourite  sport, 
were  Hollick  and  Betstyle  Woods,  near  Colney  Hatch, 
Lord's  Grove,  Southgate,  the  Larks  and  the  Hawk 
Hills,  Essex,  and  Enfield  Chase  before  it  was  enclosed. 
The  Chase  in  question,  it  may  be  added,  was  dis- 
afforested by  an  Act  passed  in  1777,  when  it  contained 
41 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

something  over  eight  thousand  acres.  The  deer, 
which  were  then  very  numerous,  were  taken  to  Lord 
Bute's  park,  at  Luton  Hoo.  The  process  of  enclosure 
took  a  great  deal  of  time,  and  persons  alive  in  the 
middle  of  the  last  century  remembered  travelling 
from  Hadley  Church  through  the  Chase,  Epping  and* 
Hainault  Forests,  to  Wanstead,  without  ever  leaving 
the  green  turf  or  losing  sight  of  forest  land.  Remains 
of  the  wooded  glories  of  Enfield  Chase  are  now  only  to 
be  found  in  some  private  parks  which  were  carved 
out  of  the  ancient  hunting  ground  of  Elizabeth  and 
James  I,  and  in  the  lower  or  easternmost  portion  of 
Hadley  Common,  known  as  "  Hadley  Wood,"  which 
retains  something  of  the  old  forest-like  character  of 
the  original  "Chase,"  some  two  hundred  and  fifty 
acres  of  which  were  allotted  to  the  parish  of  Hadley 
at  the  time  of  the  disafforestation. 

The  wild  fowl  and  snipe  which  then  abounded  on 
the  Tottenham  and  Edmonton  Marshes  also  afforded 
Mr.  Holt  much  enjoyable  sport.  An  indefatigable 
walker,  no  day  was  too  long  for  him,  whilst  he  cared 
nothing  about  inclement  weather. 

A  faithful  servant,  who  had  been  with  him  for 
forty-three  years,  was  a  constant  attendant  out 
shooting.  There  was  then  good  sport  to  be  had  quite 
close  to  Tottenham.  One  first  of  September  Mr.  Holt 
walked  out  of  the  back  door  of  his  house  there,  and 
came  home  to  breakfast  at  nine  o'clock  with  seven 
brace  of  birds.  After  lying  down  for  two  hours,  he 
started  off  again,  and  returned  with  two  brace  more, 
making  eighteen  head  ;  and  this  notwithstanding  he 
42 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

had  been  confined  to  his  room  for  the  previous 
month  with  acute  rheumatism  in  his  left  arm,  which 
obliged  him  to  walk  with  it  in  a  sling. 

In  early  life  he  shot  with  a  gun  the  barrel  of  which 
was  three  feet  three  inches.  This  he  exchanged 
•twenty  years  before  death  for  a  more  modern  weapon 
with  a  shorter  barrel  of  two  feet  ten,  a  weapon  with 
which  he  killed  many  long  shots  and  highly  prized. 
A  sportsman  of  the  good  old  school,  English  from 
top  to  toe,  Mr.  Holt  ever  showed  the  greatest  con- 
sideration for  growing  crops  and  fences ;  a  greater 
ally  of  the  farmer  never  drew  trigger.  Above  all 
things,  he  loved  fair  play. 

Another  genuine  sporting  character  was  old  Rose, 
who  for  many  years  kept  the  public-house  known  by 
the  sign  of  the  "  Jolly  Anglers,"  at  Kentish  Town. 
Rose,  in  his  youthful  days,  had  been  a  keeper,  and 
still  considered  the  green  plush  jacket  as  the  most 
honourable  one  he  could  wear.  Notwithstanding 
the  old  man  had  become  lame,  blind,  and  deaf,  he 
kept  a  good  dog,  and  still  contrived  now  and  then  to 
waylay  a  partridge.  His  next-door  neighbour,  a 
tradesman  in  the  village,  was  a  little  man,  and  though 
rather  crooked  in  his  person,  was  considered  by  all 
as  a  very  upright  man,  and  remarkable  for  holding 
his  gun  straight.  These  two  friends  used  some- 
times to  steal  a  day  from  business,  to  try  a  piece  of 
taters  or  a  few  turnips ;  and  if  game  was  scarce,  to 
bag  a  bird  was  the  greatest  honour.  It  happened  one 
day  that  old  Rose  and  my  Lord,  as  he  familiarly 
called  his  friend,  had  strayed  rather  too  far  upon  some 
43 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

person's  manor,  who  marched  up  to  the  little  man 
and  demanded  his  name.  Now  this  would  have  puzzled 
any  one  of  small  resource,  because,  unfortunately,  he 
had  no  certificate ;  but  the  little  man,  putting  on  a 
big  air,  called  to  Rose,  who  was  half  across  the  field, 
"  William,  come  and  tell  this  person  who  I  am." 

"  What  do  you  say,  my  Lord  ?  "  replied  the  old 
man. 

Immediately  the  lord  of  the  manor  pulled  off  his 
hat,  and  after  begging  the  other  lord's  pardon,  hoped 
his  lordship  would  amuse  himself  as  long  as  he  thought 
proper. 

Whilst  the  generality  of  cockney  sportsmen  were 
content  with  an  occasional  day  with  dog  and  gun, 
a  certain  number,  fairly  dowered  with  the  world's 
goods,  devoted  their  attention  to  what  they  con- 
sidered a  nobler  form  of  sport,  and  made  a  point  of 
taking  now  and  then  a  day  with  one  of  the  packs 
of  hounds  which  hunted  districts  now  forming  part 
of  London.  About  a  century  ago  packs  of  harriers 
met  at  Beddington,  Southgate,  Finchley,  and  other 
suburbs.  On  Mondays,  Wednesdays,  and  Fridays, 
Mr.  Wood,  of  Littleton,  near  Chertsey,  hunted  the 
entire  district  of  Bedfont,  Chalton,  Hounslow  Heath, 
and  Sunbury,  and  three  days  a  week  Mr.  Chapman's 
hounds  met  on  Putney  Heath,  Wimbledon  Common, 
and  at  Twickenham.  At  such  meets  every  type  of 
cockney  sportsman  was  represented,  from  the  City  prig 
who,  obtaining  a  morning's  leave  of  absence  from  the 
counting-house,  had  decorated  his  person  with  all 
the  imaginary  paraphernalia  of  the  Meynell  or 

44 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Raby  hunts,  to  the  more  antiquated  and  prosperous 
merchant  wonderfully  equipped  in  grizzle  wig,  flannel 
stockings,  and  other  obsolete  articles  of  sporting 
attire. 

One  City  sportsman,  who  had  spent  a  good  deal  of 
his  early  life  behind  the  counter,  took  to  keeping  a 
pack  of  harriers  near  London,  and  as  a  master  mani- 
fested a  great  preference  for  small  hounds.  His 
huntsman,  on  the  other  hand,  preferred  large  ones,  as 
to  the  merits  of  which  he  never  lost  a  chance  of 
expatiating.  Out  hunting  one  day,  one  of  the  diminu- 
tive pack  set  up  a  tremendous  howling  just  as  they 
had  found  in  a  cover. 

"  What  is  the  matter  with  that  hound  ? "  cried  the 
master. 

"  The  hare,  in  getting  out  of  her  form,  kicked  the 
dog  in  the  face,"  replied  the  huntsman,  "  and  the 
poor  little  devil  could  not  stand  the  blow." 

Many  droll  incidents  occurred  to  the  sporting  cits. 

At  the  close  of  the  eighteenth  century  a  meet  of 
Mr.  Chapman's  hounds  on  Sutton  Common  was 
enlivened  by  the  appearance  of  an  elderly  individual 
who,  equipped  in  a  cauliflower  wig,  cocked  hat, 
black  breeches  and  boots,  rode  up  and  enquired  of  the 
huntsman  what  the  hounds  were  going  to  hunt  that 
day. 

"  A  bag  fox,"  was  the  reply ;  "  and  I  hope,"  added 
the  man,  who  was  a  wag,  "  that  you  are  going  to 
join  us." 

"  I  should  be  very  happy  to  do  so,"  said  the  cockney  ; 
"  but  as  I  have  been  away  staying  with  my  brother 

45 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

(who  has  the  honour  of  being  an  alderman)  I  must  get 
back  to  my  shop,  for  fear  of  business  being  neglected. 
Still,  it  might  perhaps  be  managed." 

The  cit  then  desired  to  be  introduced  to  Mr. 
Chapman,  whom  in  due  course  he  requested  to 
order  the  fox  to  be  turned  out  with  his  head  towards 
London  in  order,  as  he  put  it,  "  that  he  might  enjoy 
the  pleasures  of  the  chase  on  his  way  home." 

The  master,  conceiving  that  some  amusement  might 
be  extracted  from  this  original  character,  gravely 
assented,  and  shortly  afterwards  a  fox  was  duly  set  at 
liberty,  his  head,  according  to  the  cit's  request,  being 
turned  towards  town. 

As  luck  would  have  it,  Reynard,  whilst  in  view, 
ran  in  a  direct  line  with  the  London  road  ;  but  by  the 
time  the  hounds  were  laid  on  he  turned  and  took  quite 
a  contrary  direction.  The  scent  lying  vastly  well, 
the  hounds  ran  very  swiftly,  and  were  eagerly  followed 
by  a  very  numerous  field  of  sportsmen,  all  of  whom 
enjoyed  the  distress  of  the  cockney,  whose  horse, 
having  more  mettle  than  his  rider,  ran  for  some  time 
close  in  with  the  hounds,  to  the  great  terror  of  the 
latter,  who,  Gilpin-like,  held  fast  by  the  mane  and 
pommel,  and,  after  having  escaped  many  dangers  in 
a  chase  of  an  hour  and  a  half,  was  at  last  completely 
thrown  out,  and  left  in  a  ditch  with  the  loss  of  his 
whip,  hat,  and  wig,  where,  after  having  lain  some 
time,  and  recovered  from  his  panic,  he  perceived  a 
town  at  a  short  distance,  which  he  made  for,  in 
hopes  of  being  soon  able  to  reach  St.  Paul's  or  the 
Monument.  Upon  his  arrival,  to  his  great  surprise 
46 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  mortification,  he  was  informed  the  place  he  was 
at  was  Dorking.  • 

Humorous  incidents  were  plentiful  at  these  old 
hunts. 

On  one  occasion  a  wealthy  and  well-known  London 
brewer  thought  proper  to  join  a  pack  of  foxhounds, 
and  appeared  with  the  then  unfamiliar  moustache. 
He  was  well  mounted,  and  dressed  in  a  very  con- 
spicuous manner,  in  consequence  of  which  a  French 
nobleman  who  happened  to  be  present  was  so  struck 
by  his  appearance  that  he  asked  the  master,  who 
knew  something  of  French,  if  he  were  not  un  grand 
militaire.  "  No,"  was  the  reply,  "  il  n'est  qtfun 
Chevalier  de  Make." 

This  Frenchman  just  knew  enough  of  the  English 
language  to  make  his  conversation  highly  amusing. 

On  another  occasion  out  with  hounds,  he  said,  "  I 
forget  vat  you  say  ven  de  hound  run  de  fox  without 
see  him." 

"  Oh,"  said  the  master,  "  I  suppose  you  mean  the 
scent." 

"Ah!  to  be  sure,"  said  the  Frenchman;  "I 
always  forget  de  "  sante." 

Soon  after  this  explanation  the  hounds  found  their 
fox,  and  began  to  run  very  hard.  Monsieur,  having 
jumbled  together  all  that  could  be  derived  from  the 
word  "  smell,"  shouted  out,  "  Bravo,  bravo,  but 
you  have  van  ver  fine  stink  now  !  " 

A  favourite  pack  of  foxhounds  with  sportsmen 
from  London  was  the  Old  Surrey,  which  about  1770 
used  often  to  meet  at  Peckham  Rye.  Forest  Hill  was 
47 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

another  favourite  meet;  at  that  time  very  capital 
runs  were  enjoyed  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Sydenham, 
which  for  miles  round  was  surrounded  by  open 
commons. 

Up  to  1810  the  kennels  were  at  East  Hall,  Ber- 
mondsey,  the  residence  of  Mr.  Henry  Dudin.  At 
that  time  the  Old  Surrey  frequently  left  off  drawing 
at  one  o'clock,  so  that  the  members  might  be  on 
'Change  in  the  City  at  four  p.m.  Many  of  those 
City  sportsmen  had  only  time  to  cover  their  hunting 
dress  with  long  coats. 

The  costume  of  the  hunt  was  then  green,  and  a 
beaver  top-hat.  Some  few  members,  however,  wore 
pink.  About  1810,  when  the  Honourable  George 
Nevill,  grandfather  of  the  present  writer,  was  master, 
the  kennels  were  moved  to  Godstone,  where  he 
lived  at  Flower  Place. 

In  those  days  the  Old  Surrey  foxhounds  hunted 
four  days  a  week,  and  their  country  extended  on  the 
north  to  Bromley  and  Beckenham,  and  nearly  to 
Sydenham  ;  south  to  Lingfield ;  east  to  Brasted  and 
Chelsfield;  west  to  Banstead,  Carshalton,  and  Mitcham. 

A  gentleman  alive  a  few  years  ago — perhaps  alive 
to-day — remembered  as  a  boy  having  seen  the  hunts- 
man, Tom  Hills,  killing  a  fox  near  West  Croydon 
Station. 

Tom  Hills,  one  of  a  famous  hunting  family, 
became  huntsman  in  1816,  when  Mr.  Maberly  was 
master.  This  gentleman  rode  to  hunt,  rather  than 
hunted  to  ride.  The  kennels  were  then  at  Shirley, 
near  Croydon. 

48 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

When  Mr.  Maberly  had  the  Old  Surrey,  old  Tom 
— a  character  in  his  way,  who  continued  to  act  as 
huntsman  till  1861 — was  one  evening  instructed  by 
the  master  to  get  the  finest  fox  possible  at  Leaden- 
hall  Market,  in  order  to  make  a  certainty  of 
sport  the  next  day,  when  there  was  to  be  a  par- 
ticularly smart  lawn  meet.  Tom  started  from  the 
kennels,  then  at  Shirley,  rode  post  haste  to  London, 
discovered  the  object  of  his  inglorious  pursuit,  and, 
having  strapped  him  gingerly,  deposited  him,  legs 
upwards,  in  the  capacious  pocket  of  a  large  blouse 
which  he  wore  when  moving  cubs  to  any  part  of  the 
country  where  they  might  be  required. 

As  he  was  cantering  home  over  Streatham  Common, 
he  was  stopped  by  a  truculent  highwayman  with  the 
summons,  "  Your  money  or  your  life !  "  Tom's 
reply  was  characteristic. 

"  I've  got  no  money,"  he  said  ;  "  I'm  only  a  servant. 
And  as  to  my  life,  why,  you  wouldn't  take  that, 
surely — it  isn't  worth  powder  and  shot." 

The  ruffian  persisted,  however,  but  Tom's  nerve 
and  pluck  did  not  desert  him.  He  thought  of  the 
fox  which  he  carried,  and  told  his  assailant  that  he 
would  find  money  in  his  pocket,  indicating  the  one 
that  contained  the  treasure.  A  dive  was  at  once  made 
into  it  by  the  highwayman  ;  he  was  severely  bitten, 
and  while  he  was  howling  in  agony  Tom  cantered 
blithely  away.  His  remark  was  afterwards,  "  I  could 
have  downed  him  with  my  old  hunting  whip,  but  I 
wanted  to  see  a  bit  of  sport." 

During  Mr.   Maberly's  tenure  of  the  mastership 
E  49 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

some  very  good  runs  with  bag  foxes  took  place,  which, 
however,  he  managed  so  cleverly  that  few  of  the 
field  discovered  what  they  were  hunting.  He  was 
practically  forced  to  resort  to  such  arts  in  order  to 
keep  the  game  alive.  Regardless  of  expense,  he  showed 
sport  in  what,  as  far  as  foxes  were  concerned,  was 
a  wilderness,  and  those  who  beat  him  subsequently 
did  no  little  to  stock  that  part  of  Surrey. 

In  the  neighbourhood  of  London  drags  were  often 
resorted  to  in  order  to  help  matters  out.  One  of  the 
best  runs  in  which  man,  horse,  or  hound  could  be 
engaged  in  any  country  took  place  with  a  drag  which 
was  managed  so  adroitly  that  the  secret  was  not  for 
years  afterwards  known  to  any  individual  except 
the  master  who  concocted  it,  his  groom,  who  rode  the 
drag  like  an  out-and-out  trump,  and  a  farmer,  who 
got  the  groom  out  of  harm's  way,  and  as  deftly  put 
down  the  bag  fox  in  a  small  covert.  So  complete 
was  the  deception,  that  one  old  and  excellent  sports- 
man declared  he  had  a  casual  glimpse  of  Reynard 
(this  was  during  the  drag)  going  over  a  fence. 

In  Tom's  young  days  parts  of  Surrey,  now  covered 
with  houses,  were  quite  rural  in  character.  Here 
was  the  snug  retreat  of  many  a  wealthy  cit ;  and 
the  meads,  the  time-stepping  mower,  the  hay-cart, 
the  scattered  herds,  and  a  variety  of  rustic  scenery 
together  formed  a  charming  picture,  often  enlivened 
by  a  pretty  milkmaid,  who,  as  old  Isaac  Walton  said, 
"  had  not  yet  attained  so  much  age  and  wisdom  as  to 
load  her  mind  with  any  fear  of  many  things  that 
would  never  be,  as  too  many  men  too  often  do." 
50 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

As  time  went  on,  and  London  grew,  the  meets 
of  the  Old  Surrey  had  of  necessity  to  take  place 
farther  away  from  town,  whilst  rows  of  houses 
began  to  cover  many  a  field  over  which  generations 
of  City  sportsmen  had  galloped.  As  late,  however, 
as  the  middle  of  the  last  century  some  very  irregular 
packs  used  to  make  attempts  at  hunting  quite  close 
to  the  metropolis. 

In  1840,  for  instance,  an  announcement  appeared 
in  Bell's  Life  in  London  to  the  effect  that  "  the  Surrey 
Hounds  "  would  meet  on  Wimbledon  Common  on  a 
certain  day,  upon  which  in  due  course  a  very  motley 
field  assembled  at  the  "  Bald-faced  Stag,"  named  as 
the  rendezvous. 

After  a  considerable  time  the  huntsman — a  badly- 
dressed  young  man  in  a  green  fustian  shooting  coat, 
together  with  some  other  flash-looking  youths,  got 
up  in  what  they  evidently  considered  sporting  style — 
arrived. 

These  sportsmen,  in  answer  to  enquiries  as  to  the 
whereabouts  of  the  hounds,  said  that  they  were 
in  an  outhouse  till  a  sufficient  sum  could  be  raised 
to  remunerate  the  owner  of  a  tame  fox  at  Wandsworth 
who  was  waiting  for  a  messenger  with  the  money, 
and  after  some  wrangling  a  sufficient  sum  was  sub- 
scribed, and  a  pony-cart  sent  for  the  victim,  or 
rather  victims  (for  there  were  two).  These  having 
arrived  after  an  hour's  delay,  the  hounds  were  let  out 
and  a  move  made  towards  the  Windmill. 

The  "  Surrey  hounds,"  which,  it  appeared,  were 
kept  by  various  individuals  at  Clapham,  were  then 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

seen  to  consist  of  seven  couple  of  every  breed  and 
size ;  a  more  extraordinary  pack  it  was  impossible  to 
conceive. 

Previous  to  the  liberation  of  a  fox,  the  field  were 
solemnly  requested  not  to  venture  beyond  the  pre- 
cincts of  the  Common,  upon  which  a  waggish  sports- 
man enquired  if  the  fox  had  been  trained  not  to 
leave  it  as  well. 

"  Many  a  fox,"  impressively  replied  the  custodian, 
"  have  I  turned  down  there,  and  never  knew  one  of 
them  leave  the  Common  in  his  life."  This  answer 
created  a  very  favourable  impression  amongst  the 
assembled  sportsmen,  especially  those  who  had  come 
on  foot,  some  of  whom  began  to  cheer,  realising  the 
advantage  they  would  have  over  the  mounted  division, 
whom  they  evidently  looked  forward  to  seeing  pounded 
amidst  the  thick  gorse. 

The  lid  of  the  basket  was  then  raised,  and  out  bolted 
the  fox.  A  few  minutes  later  the  pack  was  laid  on, 
and  three  or  four  of  the  best  of  the  dogs  having  set 
up  a  soul-stirring  bow-wowing,  the  rest  very  civilly 
joined  in  the  chorus,  and  away  went  hounds,  horse- 
men, and  pedestrians  as  fast  as  they  could  go. 

After  some  half-dozen  checks  in  as  many  minutes, 
some  of  the  field  declared  that  the  hounds  must  have 
started  a  hare,  for  the  cavalcade  had  reached  the 
limit  of  the  Common  on  the  south  side,  a  boundary 
no  fox  had  ever  been  known  to  pass. 

Some  unmounted  men  soon  confirmed  the  truth  of 
this  surmise ;  the  fox  had  been  left  behind  on  the 
Common,  they  said.  Besides,  everybody  would  get 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

into  trouble  if  they  did  not  go  back.  The  field  took 
this  advice,  and,  returning  to  the  Common,  found  a 
lad  who,  having  captured  the  fox  by  means  of  a 
handsome  bull  terrier,  had  once  more  put  Reynard 
to  his  basket.  A  second  fox  afforded  sport  of  a 
similar  description. 

The  "  Surrey  hounds  "  on  another  occasion  hunted 
a  tame  hare  on  the  Common,  but  poor  puss  gave 
worse  sport  than  the  foxes,  for,  running  into  a  pond, 
she  met  with  a  watery  grave.  The  hounds  made  no 
attempt  to  trouble  her  last  moments,  but  magnani- 
mously bow-wowed  round  the  pond,  not  venturing 
to  wet  their  feet  by  any  attempt  to  drag  out  their 
victim. 

In  old  days  a  great  event  in  the  life  of  many  a 
sporting  cit  was  the  annual  Easter  hunt  at  Epping, 
which  Tom  Hood  immortalised  in  verse. 

For  centuries  Epping  Forest  was  renowned  for 
the  sport  to  be  obtained  there.  Queen  Elizabeth 
had  a  hunting  lodge  close  by. 

A  large  part  of  the  Forest,  called  in  all  charters 
Waltham  Forest,  originally  belonged  to  the  Abbot 
and  Canons  of  Waltham  Abbey,  to  whom  it  had  been 
given  by  Edward  the  Confessor  in  a  fit  of  devotion. 
The  Forest  laws  were  then  of  exceptional  severity. 

At  the  dissolution  of  the  monasteries,  however,  the 
monks  were  hunted  off  the  Forest,  the  King  reclaimed 
his  rights,  and  the  Forest,  with  all  the  game,  became 
the  property  of  the  Crown.  From  this  period  till  the 
beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century,  the  royal 
buckhounds  often  hunted  over  Epping  Forest, 
53 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  there  was  formerly  a  tradition  preserved  amongst 
the  old  keepers,  that  the  kennel  used  in  these  temporary 
visits  was  in  the  bottom,  at  the  back  of  the  Eagle  Inn, 
at  Snaresbrook. 

On  the  resumption  of  the  royal  rights  at  the 
Restoration,  the  charge  and  keeping  of  the  Forest  was 
granted  to  a  Ranger,  with  all  the  usual  privileges. 
In  the  reign  of  George  II  the  Rangership  was  given, 
as  an  hereditary  grant  from  the  Crown,  to  Sir  Josiah 
Child,  together  with  many  parcels  of  land  in  the 
Forest,  the  ownership  of  all  the  red  deer,  the 
fallow  deer,  and  other  game  being  still  reserved.  The 
hereditary  Lord  Wardenship  belonged  to  the  Tylney 
family,  whose  successors  were  only  deprived  of  such 
dignity  as  remained  to  the  office  by  the  Epping 
Forest  Act  of  1878,  when  ^300  was  awarded  as  com- 
pensation. The  appointment  of  Warden  was  then 
vested  in  the  Crown,  the  first  Ranger  of  the  Forest 
after  it  had  been  saved  being  H.R.H.  the  Duke  of 
Connaught,  who  still  holds  it. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  eighteenth  century  the 
fallow  deer  had  been  greatly  reduced  in  numbers 
owing  to  the  depredations  of  a  gang  of  poachers 
known  as  "  Waltham  Blacks,"  in  consequence  of  which 
an  order  was  issued  absolutely  prohibiting  the  capture 
of  any  deer  at  all  for  three  years;  and  this  would 
appear  to  have  been  fairly  respected,  for  the  herds 
once  more  became  large. 

The  history  of  the  Easter  Epping  Hunt  is  of  some 
interest.  About  1739  a  number  of  sporting  gentlemen 
living  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  Forest  united 
54 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  collect  a  kennel  of  staghounds,  and  the  then 
Ranger  being  himself  a  member,  granted  them  leave 
to  hunt  the  red  deer,  which  were  his  own  property 
This  hunt  was  called  the  Ladies'  Hunt,  as  many 
ladies  in  the  neighbourhood  joined  in  it.  The  meet- 
ings were  in  general  at  Fencepiece,  near  Hainault 
Forest,  and  there  was  an  anniversary  meeting  on 
Easter  Monday,  with  a  dinner,  ball,  and  other  festivi- 
ties. To  this  Easter  meeting  it  was  customary  for  the 
Londoners  to  resort,  some  as  invited  guests,  others  as 
strangers,  merely  to  enjoy  the  sport. 

For  many  years  the  pack  was  known  as  the  Tylney 
hounds  from  the  fact  that  the  kennels  were  at  Lord 
Tylney's.  The  first  huntsman  was  a  man  called 
Fuller,  the  next  Bishop,  and  after  him  old  Will  Deane 
— a  great  character — who  rode  with  the  pack  for  forty- 
seven  years,  during  which  time  he  broke  eleven  bones 
and  married  four  wives.  The  uniform  of  the  hunt  at 
this  time  was  green  with  gold-embroidered  button- 
holes and  a  black  velvet  hunting-cap. 

When  Lord  Tylney  went  to  the  Continent  the 
hounds  became  temporarily  a  subscription  pack,  being 
afterwards  kept  for  a  time  by  Mr.  Mellish,  at  Ching- 
ford  Hatch,  when  they  were  called  Mellish's  hounds. 
Mr.  Mellish  took  great  trouble  with  the  pack,  which 
were  of  the  sort  known  as  "  lemon  pyes  " — all  white 
with  yellow  spots.  These  appear  to  have  hunted  the 
deer  in  the  Forest  up  till  1805,  and  afterwards  became 
the  foundation  of  the  old  Devon  and  Somerset 
staghounds. 

The  original  master  of  the  pack,  Mr.  Joseph  Mellish, 
55 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

met  with  a  sad  fate,  for  one  evening,  in  1798,  after 
having  enjoyed  a  day's  hunting  with  the  King's 
hounds,  he  was  robbed  and  murdered  near  Staines. 
As  a  mark  of  respect,  the  annual  Easter  hunt  was 
abandoned  that  year. 

The  nephew  of  the  murdered  master,  Mr.  William 
Mellish,  kept  up  the  pack  till  1806,  after  which  there 
appears  to  have  been  no  regular  hunt  till  1812,  when 
Mr.  Tylney  Long  Wellesley,  a  gentleman  who  had 
married  a  great  heiress,  Miss  Long — "  Man  wants  but 
little  here  below,  but  wants  that  little  '  Long,' " 
was  a  favourite  saying  in  Essex  for  some  time  after 
the  wedding — inaugurated  a  new  pack  with  servants 
equipped  in  Lincoln  green,  his  huntsman  being  Tom 
Rounding.  Mr.  Wellesley,  who  resided  at  Wanstead, 
became  well  known  for  his  wild  extravagance,  to 
which  Byron  alluded  in  Canto  XI  of  Don  Juan — 

Where's  Brummel  ?    Dish'd.     Where's  Long  Pole  Wellesley  ? 
Diddled— 

and  eventually  recklessness  caused  his  financial  collapse 
in  1822.  After  he  had  left  the  county  Tom  Round- 
ing continued  the  hunt  with  a  scratch  pack.  The  last 
occasion  on  which  a  wild  red  deer  was  hunted  is  said 
to  have  been  in  1826,  when  one  ran  from  Hog  Hill  to 
Plaistow. 

For  years  after  Mr.  Wellesley  had  retired  to  the 
Continent  festive  gatherings  used  to  be  held,  at  which 
a  silver  cup  inscribed  "  From  Long  Wellesley  abroad 
to  Tommy  Rounding  at  home"  was  merrily  passed 
from  hand  to  hand.  Rounding,  like  all  his  family, 
56 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

was  a  good  sportsman.  His  portrait  has  been  left  us 
by  Tom  Hood,  who  knew  this  "jovial  elf,"  as  he 
called  him,  well. 

A  snow-white  head,  a  merry  eye, 

A  cheek  of  jolly  blush  ; 
A  claret  tint  laid  on  by  health 

With  Master  Reynard's  brush. 

The  few  remaining  red  deer  at  this  period  kept 
mostly  to  the  adjoining  Hainault  Forest — the  last 
of  all  is  said  to  have  been  removed  from  Epping 
Forest  to  Windsor  in  1827.  Nevertheless,  in  1888 
it  was  said  that  some  still  existed  in  the  Forest,  whilst 
a  small  herd  is  recorded  a  year  previously  in  Takeley 
Forest,  near  Hatfield,  Broad  Oak,  the  progeny  of  a 
single  Epping  Forest  hind  lost  by  hounds  during  a 
chase. 

A  few  words  as  to  the  above-mentioned  Hainault 
Forest  may  here  not  be  out  of  place. 

This  beautiful  expanse  of  wild  woodland,  originally 
the  eastern  portion  of  Waltham  Forest,  is  now  un- 
fortunately only  represented  by  about  eight  hundred 
acres,  which  a  few  years  ago  were  saved  for  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  public  by  the  endeavours  of  several 
gentlemen  locally  interested,  foremost  among  whom 
was  Mr.  E.  North  Buxton. 

Hainault  Forest  consisted  of  some  seventeen  thou- 
sand acres  in  1793,  which  had  shrunk  to  four  thousand 
in  1851,  of  which  the  King's  woods  comprised  rather 
more  than  half.  Even  at  this  time  the  forest  in 
question  was  a  wild  tract  of  uplands  and  dells  covered 
57 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

with  dense  underwood,  pollard  oak,  and  hornbeam, 
broken  by  breezy  stretches  of  common  overgrown 
with  furze,  broom,  and  heather. 

In  1851  the  Commissioners  of  Woods  and  Forests 
(whose  action,  to  its  eternal  shame,  was  endorsed 
by  the  House  of  Commons)  recommended  that 
Hainault  Forest  should  be  completely  destroyed  and 
converted  into  arable  land.  Two  years  later  all  the 
old  oaks,  including  the  remains  of  the  Fairlop  Oak  of 
ancient  memory,  were  dragged  up  by  steam  ploughs, 
and  in  six  weeks  the  beautiful  forest  had  disappeared, 
the  only  portion  left  untouched  being  a  small  and 
very  pretty  wood  by  Lambourne. 

As  an  act  of  criminal  vandalism,  the  disafforestation 
of  Hainault  stands  almost  alone,  as  will  be  realised 
when  it  is  stated  that  more  than  a  hundred  thousand 
trees  were  cut  down  on  the  Crown  farm  alone,  and 
what  formerly  had  been  a  tract  of  great  woodland 
beauty  was  converted  into  one  of  the  most  unin- 
viting-looking districts  possible — scarcely  a  tree  being 
left  to  relieve  the  dreary  uniformity  of  the  long,  rigid, 
rectangular  roads. 

To  return  to  the  subject  of  the  Epping  Hunt. 

Gradually  the  hunting  days  narrowed  down  to  the 
one  day,  on  Easter  Monday,  when  the  hounds  used 
to  meet  at  "  The  Bald-faced  Stag."  Regular  hunting 
men  then  began  to  laugh  at  the  whole  thing,  and 
for  many  years  before  the  Easter  Monday  hunt  had 
become  a  mere  cockney  carnival  it  was  frequently 
declared  that  the  main  object  for  keeping  it  up  was 
to  serve  the  neighbouring  inns  and  public-houses, 
58 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  to  put  something  into  the  pocket  of  the  huntsman, 
for  whom  a  collection  was  made. 

In  the  early  nineteenth  century  the  usual  attendance, 
upon  the  most  moderate  calculation,  was  from  two 
to  three  thousand  horsemen,  and  seven  or  eight 
hundred  vehicles  of  different  descriptions,  in  addition 
to  numbers  of  pedestrians.  Pugilistic  encounters  suc- 
ceeded each  other  in  different  rings  for  the  amusement 
of  one  class,  whilst  the  E.O.  gentlemen,  and  other 
owners  of  gambling  concerns,  entertained  their  friends 
in  booths  erected  for  the  purpose.  The  usual  hour 
for  the  commencement  of  the  hunt  was  half-past 
twelve,  at  which  time  the  deer  was  liberated  amidst 
the  crowd,  the  hounds  being  close  up  to  his  haunches. 
With  great  difficulty  the  poor  animal  would  make  his 
way  between  coaches  and  carts,  and  through  every 
description  of  horse  and  foot,  till  at  length  he  broke 
view,  by  gaining  the  covert.  Some  years  the  deer 
gave  the  assembled  company  much  pleasing  and  un- 
expected gratification,  by  leading  the  chase  over  the 
open  part  of  the  Forest,  in  view.  Those  in  charge  of 
the  hounds,  however,  seldom  continued  to  run  him  for 
more  than  half  an  hour,  when,  if,  as  usually  happened, 
he  took  soil,  they  drew  off  the  hounds  and  left  him  to 
enjoy  his  ease,  their  idea  being  that  they  would  take 
him  with  a  good  run  on  the  following  morning,  when 
the  cockney  Nimrods  should  be  sleeping  in  their  beds. 

In  1 8 10  the  Easter  Epping  Hunt  was  rendered  more 
interesting   than   usual   by   Colonel   Thornton,   who 
gratified  the  cockney  sportsmen  by  allowing  a  stag 
to  be  turned  out  before  his  hounds. 
59 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

It  was  a  very  fine  day,  and  vast  numbers  assembled 
to  see  the  sight.  The  ladies  in  carriages  surpassed  in 
number,  splendour,  and  beauty  all  that  had  ever 
appeared  there  before.  Several  real  sportsmen,  friends 
of  Colonel  Thornton,  together  with  many  New- 
market men,  taking  the  opportunity  of  hunting  on  that 
day,  on  their  way  to  Newmarket  Races,  added  sporting 
lustre  to  the  scene.  By  those  accustomed  to  attend 
this  annual  assemblage  the  numbers  were  estimated 
at  above  thirty  thousand,  the  very  trees  being  occupied 
by  persons  of  all  descriptions,  eager  to  view  the  gay 
crowd  of  horse  and  foot. 

At  twelve  o'clock  the  Colonel  arrived  in  a  sporting 
barouche,  drawn  by  four  cream-coloured  Arabians, 
together  with  ladies  who,  like  himself,  were  dressed  in 
scarlet.  Before  opening  the  hunt  he  pledged  the 
assembled  company  in  a  gold  goblet  shaped  like  a 
fox's  mask,  a  trophy,  it  was  rumoured,  won  by  the 
Colonel  in  consequence  of  a  wager  as  to  the  powers  of 
his  pack  of  hounds. 

Much  excitement  was  caused  by  the  arrival  of  the 
huntsman,  whippers-in,  and  helpers,  mounted  or 
leading  six  high-bred  chestnut  horses,  said  to  be 
descendants  of  Eclipse,  and  with  them  the  hounds,  all 
of  the  same  colour,  fawn  and  white. 

The  deer  (which  was  a  celebrated  animal  known  as 
Mrs.  Clarke)  was  now  ordered  by  the  Colonel  to  be 
uncarted,  which  was  done  with  great  difficulty,  the 
populace  being  so  extremely  anxious,  and  leaving 
no  opening  for  it  to  get  off.  The  quarry  (renowned 
as  having  furnished  an  extraordinary  run  over  Salisbury 
60 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Plain)  was  ornamented,  according  to  the  old  custom, 
of  the  Epping  Easter  Hunt,  with  gay-coloured  ribbons, 
which  many  of  the  cockneys,  who  had  but  an  im- 
perfect sight  of  the  animal,  supposed  to  be  part  of 
its  natural  hue.  In  clearing  a  way  through  the  people, 
this  deer  leapt  over  a  gig  and  horse,  creating  much 
alarm,  and  then  dashed  into  the  Forest.  The  hunts- 
man was  compelled,  from  the  concourse  of  people,  to 
make  a  considerable  circuit  before  he  could  lay  on  his 
hounds. 

The  deer,  as  may  be  imagined,  was  headed  at  every 
instant.  The  hounds,  however,  settling  to  their 
scent,  drove  him  out  of  the  Forest,  which  induced  the 
Colonel  to  order  them  to  be  stopped,  to  prevent  that 
mischief  which,  as  he  said,  must  unavoidably  happen 
to  many  an  honest  farmer,  should  the  hunt  find  its 
way  over  their  land. 

The  hounds,  returning  into  the  Forest,  soon  ran 
into  a  herd  of  deer,  when  a  fine  old  one  was  singled 
out,  and  after  a  run  of  great  speed  and  close  hunting, 
through  clouds  of  dust,  on  roads  hardened  by 
easterly  winds,  and  baked  by  an  intense  sun,  in  about 
three  hours  was  gallantly  run  into  and  killed,  to  the 
admiration  of  every  good  sportsman,  who  had  con- 
ceived it  impossible  that  any  hounds  could  have 
afforded  sport  under  such  circumstances. 

The  deer  that  was  first  turned  out  escaped  from  the 
cause  before-mentioned,  but  was  followed  for  ten 
or  twelve  miles  by  horsemen  who  conceived  the 
hounds  to  be  coming  in  their  rear.  The  game  then 
taking  soil,  some  of  the  London  sportsmen,  anxious 
61 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting   W^ays 

to  see  a  red  deer,  and  more  so  such  a  famous  one  as 
"  Mrs.  Clarke,"  made  all  speed  towards  the  pond, 
and  a  few,  in  attempting  to  gratify  their  curiosity, 
tumbled  into  the  water,  and  on  the  animal's  bounding 
out,  some  of  their  horses  ran  away,  whereby  many  falls 
were  experienced.  Many  horses  were  lamed,  but 
no  serious  accident  took  place,  which,  considering 
the  number  present,  was  very  remarkable. 

For  some  years  after  this,  in  the  early  part  of  the 
nineteenth  century,  the  meet  of  the  Easter  Hunt, 
often  attended  by  as  many  people  as  frequented 
Epsom  Races,  was  at  the  "  Roebuck  "  at  Buckhurst  Hill. 
The  usual  custom  at  the  Easter  Hunt  was  that  if 
the  deer  were  killed  the  huntsman  was  allowed  to 
sell  the  skin  to  the  cockneys,  who  eagerly  and  dearly 
purchased  bits  of  it.  If  the  deer  was  taken  alive 
a  collection  was  made  for  the  huntsman  and  whippers- 
in.  A  good  Forest  buck  was  generally  selected, 
its  antlers  being  dressed  with  ribbons  according  to 
immemorial  custom,  and  the  whole  affair  was  a  real 
hunt,  a  good  run  being  generally  ensured  in  spite  of 
the  motley  crowd  who  flocked  to  the  chase. 

About  1825  the  open  plains  bordering  the  Forest 
abounded  with  deer,  which  were  a  delightful  sight 
for  the  passengers  on  the  coaches  going  out  of 
London  to  the  Eastern  Counties  on  a  fine  summer's 
morning. 

In  1830,  however,  the  Epping  Hunt  had  sunk  to  a 
low  ebb.     At  that  time  the  Forest  authorities  ceased 
to  supply  the  buck,  the  place  of  which  was  taken  by 
a  tame  deer  bought  or  hired  by  the  local  publicans. 
62 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

At  the  time  when  the  hunt  had  for  years  past 
been  falling  into  the  sear  and  yellow  leaf,  Hood 
published  his  humorous  poem  about  it.  The  hero, 
John  Huggins,  a  concentration  of  all  that  was  re- 
spectable as  a  citizen  of  Cheap  and  unfortunate  as 
a  hunter  of  deer,  may  be  indeed  called  a  worthy  rival 
to  John  Gilpin  of  historic  memory. 

The  description  of  the  field  is  witty  in  the  extreme. 

A  score  were  sprawling  on  the  grass, 

And  heaven  fell  in  showers  ; 
There  was  another  Floorer  there, 

Besides  the  Queen  of  Flowers. 

Some  lost  their  stirrups,  some  their  whips, 

Some  had  no  caps  to  shew, 
But  few  like  Charles  at  Charing  Cross 

Rode  on  in  statue  quo. 

The  peroration  is  as  amusing  as  the  rest  of  the 
poem.  The  great  day  over,  the  proud  sportsmen 
describe  to  each  other  how  the  stag  stood  at  bay. 

And  how  the  hunters  stood  aloof, 

Regardless  of  their  lives, 
And  shunn'd  a  heart  whose  very  horns 

They  knew  could  "  Handle  "  knives. 

The  old  form  of  the  hunt  was  completely  ended 
by  the  enclosure,  in  1853,  of  that  part  of  the  Forest 
where  the  meet  had  always  been  held.  The  Epping 
Hunt  was  o'er ! 

A  parody  of  the  Easter  Hunt,  however,  endured 
for  many  years  later,  and  in  the  early  seventies  of  the 
last  century  a  miserable  deer  was  uncarted  late  in  the 
63 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

afternoon  at  the  "  King's  Oak  "  at  High  Beech,  the 
landlord  of  which  advertised  the  real  original  Easter 
Hunt  with  considerable  ultimate  profit  to  himself. 
An  even  more  pathetic  and  ludicrous  hunt  was  about 
this  time  provided  by  a  rival  publican.  The  whole 
affair  had  become  pitiable  in  the  extreme. 

Meanwhile  the  old  Forest  had  suffered  greatly 
from  encroachments  and  neglect. 

Mr.  Howard,  one  of  the  Commissioners  of  Woods 
and  Forests,  stated  before  a  Committee  of  the  House 
of  Commons,  in  1863,  that  of  the  nine  thousand 
acres  of  which  Epping  Forest  consisted  in  1793  not 
more  than  seven  thousand  remained — two  thousand 
acres  had  been  lost  by  enclosures,  but  at  what  time 
could  not  be  ascertained. 

In  1793  Epping  Forest  was  well  stocked  with  both 
red  and  fallow  deer.  Sir  James  Tylney  Long,  Warden 
of  the  Forest,  although  he  could  not  ascertain  the 
exact  number,  issued  a  report  which  showed  that  bucks 
and  does  were  then  numerous.  In  1863,  however, 
Mr.  Howard  told  the  Committee  of  the  House  of 
Commons,  "  There  are  no  longer  any  deer  in  Epping 
Forest ;  practically  they  do  not  exist  .  .  .  there 
may  be  a  dozen,  perhaps." 

In  the  course  of  the  investigation  into  forest  rights 
it  was  discovered  that  the  City  of  London,  contrary 
to  the  general  impression,  had  never  claimed  the  right 
of  hunting  in  Epping  Forest  on  Easter  Monday, 
but  did  claim  the  right  of  hunting  there,  though  not 
on  a  particular  day.  At  one  time  the  Corporation 
greatly  prized  its  hunting  privileges ;  and  the  Office 
64 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  "  Common  Hunt " — an  office  of  dignity  and 
emolument — was  only  abolished  in  1807,  on  the  death 
of  the  holder. 

When  the  abolition  of  the  Office  of  Common  Hunt 
was  first  proposed  one  member  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Council  protested  that  it  was  as  necessary 
as  that  of  Recorder.  Though  admittedly  a  sinecure, 
it  was,  he  said,  necessary  to  preserve  it  as  one  of  the 
ancient  rights  and  privileges  of  the  citizens  of  London. 
The  law  officers  of  the  City  also  gave  their  opinion 
that  it  was  highly  inexpedient  to  take  from  the 
establishment  of  the  Lord  Mayor  an  office  which  could 
be  traced  to  the  days  of  Richard  II.  Common  Hunt, 
it  should  be  added,  ranked  as  the  second  esquire  of  the 
Lord  Mayor's  household. 

In  1882  the  evil  days,  during  which  the  ancient 
Forest  had  suffered  so  grievously  from  depredations 
and  enclosure,  came  to  an  end,  and  on  May  6th  of  that 
year  a  public  ceremony — upon  which  heaven  itself 
seemed  to  smile,  for  it  was  a  lovely  day — marked  the 
completion  of  the  measures  by  which  the  Corporation 
of  the  City  of  London,  at  a  cost  of  £250,000,  had 
saved  Epping  Forest  for  all  time,  the  declaration 
that  the  vast  expanse  of  woodland  was  now  for  ever 
safe  being  made  by  Queen  Victoria  herself  amidst  a 
scene  of  the  greatest  enthusiasm. 

The  incalculable  benefits  produced  by  the  generous 
and  public  -  spirited  action  of  the  Corporation  in 
preserving  this  sanctuary  of  sylvan  life  so  close  to 
the  metropolis  can  hardly  be  overestimated.  Would 
that  many  more  of  the  vast  sums  spent  upon  philan- 
F  65 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

thropic  enterprise,  often  of  dubious  utility,  had  been 
diverted  towards  the  purchase  of  national  playgrounds 
of  the  same  kind. 

Had  Enfield  Chase  and  Hainault  Forest  been  pre- 
served intact  the  people  of  London  would  have 
possessed  a  vast  expanse  of  woodlands  unequalled  for 
its  beauty,  and  fitted  to  afford  healthy  recreation  and 
enjoyment  to  countless  generations. 

The  after  results  of  the  dedication  of  Epping 
Forest— "the  loveliest  forest  in  the  world,  and  the 
pleasantest  especially  in  summer,"  so  George  Borrow 
called  it — have  been  wholly  admirable.  It  now  con- 
sists of  some  six  thousand  acres,  to  be  preserved  for 
the  public  in  perpetuity,  a  staff  of  verderers,  at  the 
head  of  whom  is  Mr.  E.  North  Buxton,  maintaining 
the  woodlands  and  everything  connected  with  them 
in  a  most  efficient  manner. 

It  should  be  added  that  in  1899  Mr.  Buxton  very 
generously  presented  twenty-eight  acres  known  as 
"  Yardley  Hill,"  to  serve  as  a  connecting  link  between 
the  outlying  portion  and  the  main  block. 

A  pleasing  feature  is  the  flourishing  state  of  the 
fallow  deer,  which  at  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
century  had  become  practically  extinct. 

In  1873  there  were  scarcely  a  dozen  left.  In  the 
autumn  of  that  year  an  old  woodman  knew  of  three, 
but  very  rightly  would  not  say  where  they  lurked. 

At  the  time  when  the  Forest  came  under  the 
admirable  system  of  conservation  which  now  prevails, 
it  is  said  that  but  one  buck  and  a  few  does  survived  ! 

From   these,   however,   greatly   to   the   credit   of 

66 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  Verderer  and  his  officers,  has  sprung  a  herd 
of  some  150  head,  all  of  them  the  descendants  of 
the  few  harried  survivors  of  forty  years  ago.  In 
addition  to  these  there  are  a  certain  number  of  roe 
deer  which  some  time  ago  were  introduced  by  Mr. 
Buxton.  These,  however,  lie  more  on  the  outskirts 
than  in  the  Forest  itself. 

The  fallow  deer  of  the  Forest,  so  happily  preserved 
from  extinction,  are  comparatively  small  in  size, 
of  a  uniform  dark  brown  colour,  almost  black,  with 
very  attenuated  antlers. 

In  colour  and  other  characteristics  they  differ 
from  herds  in  other  parts  of  the  country,  and  are 
animals  of  considerable  scientific  interest.  For  this 
reason,  apart  from  the  dictates  of  humanity,  it  is 
all  the  more  important  that  the  descendants  of  the 
deer  who  furnished  Mr.  Mellish's  "  lemon  pyes " 
with  many  a  good  run  in  the  old  days  of  the  eighteenth 
century  should  be  preserved  from  the  attacks  (un- 
fortunately frequent  of  late)  of  the  numberless  dogs 
owned  by  persons  living  close  to  the  Forest.  After  the 
many  vicissitudes  which  this  herd  has  gone  through, 
it  is  surely  entitled  to  live  unmolested  amidst  the 
sylvan  glades,  where  it  is  said  to  have  first  been 
introduced  by  the  Romans. 


67 


Ill 


A  CENTURY  or  so  ago  the  roads  running  through 
Epping  Forest  were  favourite  haunts  of  highway- 
men. There  on  occasion  lurked  the  famous  Dick 
Turpin  and  his  associate,  Tom  King,  who  once 
robbed  five  coaches  in  one  day.  Turpin's  memory  is 
still  preserved  in  the  Forest  by  a  little  inn  called 
"  Dick  Turpin's  Cave,"  just  below  High  Beech, 
and  here  some  rusty  weapons,  said  to  have  belonged 
to  the  famous  highwaymen,  are  to  this  day  pre- 
served. 

Turpin's  celebrated  ride  to  York  is,  I  believe,  a 
fiction.  The  highwayman  who  performed  the  famous 
ride  was  a  man  called  Nevinson,  known  as  "  Swift 
Nick."  He  robbed  a  sailor  on  Gad's  Hill  about  dawn 
one  summer's  day  in  1676,  and  by  contriving  to  get  to 
York  bowling  green  the  same  evening  established  a 
successful  alibi. 

In  the  days  before  railways  were  dreamt  of  num- 
bers of  people  who  frequented  the  races  at  Newmarket 
went  and  returned  by  way  of  Epping  Forest,  and  as 
they  often  carried  a  good  deal  of  money  with  them, 
some  daring  robberies  were  committed. 

In  1793  John  Wiltshire  was  executed  at  Chelmsford 
for  highway  robbery  in  the  Forest,  where,  with  a 
couple  of  companions,  one  night  in  April,  he  had 

68 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

stopped  two  gentlemen — Mr.  Howarth  and  Mr. 
Montolieu — and  robbed  them  of  cash,  bank-notes, 
and  bills  to  the  extent  of  about  two  thousand  guineas. 

The  victims  were  so  sound  asleep  when  the  chaise 
stopped  that  neither  of  them  waked  till  the  ruffians 
began  to  rifle  their  pockets.  After  receiving  from 
them  their  watches  and  gold,  they  insisted  upon  their 
pocket-books,  which  demand  not  being  instantly 
complied  with,  they  forced  open  their  waistcoats, 
within  which  they  discovered  and  took  both  their 
pocket-books. 

Wiltshire  was  caught  at  Beaconsfield,  and  at  his 
trial  some  evidence  was  given  showing  the  connection 
which  existed  between  certain  innkeepers  and  high- 
waymen. 

Johnson,  a  retired  bruiser,  who  kept  a  singular 
kind  of  sporting  coffee-house,  in  a  street  near  Lincoln's 
Inn  Fields,  proved,  with  apparent  reluctance,  that  the 
prisoner  was  at  Newmarket  on  the  day  of  the  robbery, 
he  having  lost  a  considerable  sum  at  hazard  in  his 
(Johnson's)  company  ;  and  also  that,  on  that  very 
day,  he  lent  the  prisoner  his  bay  rat-tailed  mare, 
on  which,  with  his  companion,  Broughton,  still  at 
large,  Wiltshire  was  supposed  to  have  committed  the 
robbery.  The  pugilist  hung  back  during  all  his 
examination,  displaying  that  kind  of  shift  at  every 
question  which  was  better  calculated  for  a  bruising 
stage  than  a  court  of  justice. 

The  evidence  of  this  man  cast  a  startling  light  upon 
the  connection  which  was  known  to  exist  between 
the  keepers  of  certain  low-class  houses  of  refreshment 
69 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  the  highwaymen  whom  they  on  occasions  sheltered 
and  assisted.  Some  of  the  latter,  however,  relied 
upon  themselves  alone,  and,  leading  double  lives, 
would  ostensibly  follow  some  respectable  calling  in 
the  intervals  of  adventure  on  the  road. 

Such  a  one  was  the  individual  who  kept  a  glove 
shop  on  the  northern  outskirts  of  London.  Though 
a  cunning  rascal,  he  was  once  thoroughly  frightened 
by  a  lady. 

Going  out  of  town  towards  Barnet,  she  found  that 
she  had  forgotten  her  gloves,  and  so  stopped  at  this 
man's  shop  and  bought  a  pair,  and  after  paying 
for  them  from  a  purse  well  stocked  with  bank-notes, 
stepped  into  her  post-chaise  and  proceeded  on  her 
journey. 

She  had  scarcely  reached  Finchley  Common,  when 
a  highwayman  stopped  the  chaise  and  demanded  her 
money.  He  entreated  her  not  to  be  alarmed,  he 
had  no  intention  of  hurting  her  ;  if  she  surrendered 
her  property  it  was  all  he  wanted.  Penury  alone 
urged  him  to  the  desperate  act,  and  he  was  determined 
to  obtain  money  or  perish.  The  lady  gave  her  purse, 
and  the  depredator  rode  off. 

After  he  was  gone,  and  the  fright  had  subsided, 
the  lady  imagined  that  in  the  address  of  the  high- 
wayman she  recognised  the  voice  of  the  glover  she 
had  some  time  before  dealt  with.  This  idea  struck 
her  so  forcibly  that  she  ordered  the  post-boy  to 
drive  back  to  town,  not  choosing,  as  she  said,  to 
venture  farther  over  the  Heath. 

On  her  arrival  at  the  glover's,  she  knocked  and 
70 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

gained  admittance  ;  the  glover  himself  opened  the 
door.  The  lady  desired  to  speak  with  him  in  private. 
The  glover  showed  her  to  a  back  parlour,  when  she 
exclaimed,  "  I  am  come  for  my  purse,  which  you  have 
robbed  me  of  this  evening  on  Finchley  Common  !  " 
The  glover  was  confounded.  The  lady  proceeded, 
"  It  is  of  no  use  for  you  to  deny  it ;  I  am  convinced, 
and  your  life  is  at  my  mercy.  Return  me  my  property, 
and  trust  to  my  humanity  !  "  The  glover,  overcome 
with  guilt,  shame,  and  confusion,  returned  the  purse, 
confessed  his  crime,  and  pleaded  his  distress. 

The  lady,  after  a  suitable  admonishment,  gave 
him  a  ten-pound  note,  bade  him  mend  his  way  of 
life,  and  keep  his  own  counsel,  adding  that  she  would 
never  divulge  his  name  or  place  of  abode.  She  kept 
her  word ;  and  though  the  robbery  was  spoken  of  in 
the  papers,  no  allusion  was  made  to  the  discovery 
of  the  thief. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  ladies  often  gave  more  trouble 
to  highwaymen  than  did  men  thoroughly  able  to 
defend  themselves. 

Two  well-known  prize  fighters,  John  Ward  and 
William  Treble,  on  their  way  to  town  in  a  chaise, 
were  one  night  stopped  by  a  single  highwayman, 
who  demanded  their  money ;  and  notwithstanding 
Ward  telling  him  to  whom  he  was  talking,  still  per- 
sisted in  his  demand,  saying  he  paid  no  respect  to 
personages,  and  obliged  the  two  mighty  heroes  to 
deliver  the  contents  of  their  pockets,  which  amounted, 
on  the  part  of  Ward,  to  half  a  crown  and  some 
halfpence,  and  on  that  of  Treble,  to  one  guinea 
71 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

and  a  silver  watch.  They  had  proceeded  a  very  little 
way  farther,  when  they  were  attacked  by '  three 
more  footpads,  but  these  being  informed  by  the 
crestfallen  pugilists  that  they  had  just  been  "  spoken 
to,"  let  them  proceed  on  their  way. 

Finchley  Common  was  the  favourite  haunt  of 
Dick  Turpin  and  Jack  Sheppard,  the  latter  of  whom 
was  captured  there  in  1724  disguised  in  a  butcher's 
blue  frock  and  woollen  apron,  with  a  stolen  watch 
concealed  under  each  armpit.  Turpin's  Oak,  on  the 
Barnet  road,  had  its  trunk  full  of  pistol  balls,  fired  at 
it  by  passing  travellers  in  order  to  scare  away  high- 
waymen. 

Blackheath  was  also  a  notorious  resort  of  these 
knights  of  the  road,  as  was  Wimbledon  Common, 
and  Shooter's  Hill  seldom  lacked  the  ghastly  orna- 
ment of  some  miscreant  swinging  in  the  wind.  Here 
Jerry  Abershawe  was  hung  in  chains,  having  first 
been  hanged  in  the  ordinary  way  on  Kennington 
Common. 

Some  people  carried  bad  money  especially  for  the 
benefit  of  highwaymen,  one  of  whom,  who  stopped 
a  party  at  the  gate  of  Twickenham  Park,  in  October, 
1781,  to  his  great  disgust  got  a  purse  full  of  it  from 
Lady  Browne,  who,  anticipating  attack,  had  taken 
care  to  provide  a  supply. 

Lord  Berkeley,  being  driven  over  Hounslow  Heath, 
was  awakened  from  sleep  by  his  coach  being  brought 
to  a  standstill  and  a  threatening  face  looking  in  at 
the  window. 

"  I  have  you  at  last,  my  lord,"  said  a  gruff  voice, 
72 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  though  you  said  you  would  never  yield  to  a  single 
robber.  Deliver ! " 

"  Certainly,"  was  the  Earl's  reply ;  "  but  tell  me 
first  who  is  that  looking  over  your  shoulder." 

The  highwayman  turned  his  head  to  look,  and  at 
the  same  moment  Lord  Berkeley  shot  him  dead. 

At  Purser's  Green,  where  the  Fulham  and  Parson's 
Green  roads  separate,  is,  or  was,  an  inscribed  stone 
commemorating  a  highwayman's  singular  death.  It 
was  let  into  the  wall  near  the  entrance  to  Park  House, 
on  it  being  put  "  Purser's  Cross,  yth  August,  1738." 

In  that  year  a  highwayman  who  had  committed  a 
robbery  on  Finchley  Common,  being  recognised  in 
an  inn  in  Burlington  Gardens,  managed  to  get  to  his 
horse,  mount,  and  ride  off.  He  was,  however,  pur- 
sued by  a  crowd,  who  followed  him  through  Hyde 
Park,  where  a  number  of  gentlemen  and  their  servants 
joined  in  the  hue  and  cry.  By  the  time  the  fugitive 
reached  Fulham  Fields  he  was  so  closely  pressed 
as  to  realise  that  escape  was  hopeless,  so  having  flung 
the  contents  of  his  purse  to  some  men  working  there, 
he  put  his  pistol  to  his  ear  and  fell  dead  before  he 
was  captured. 

His  name  was  never  discovered,  and,  according  to 
the  custom  of  the  day,  he  was  buried  at  the  cross- 
roads with  a  stake  through  his  body. 

The  extraordinary  ease  with  which  highwaymen 
succeeded  in  robbing  travellers  is  the  more  remarkable 
insomuch  that  many  of  them  exhibited  great  cowardice 
on  occasion.  In  August,  1819,  Lady  Stanley,  travelling 
from  York,  accompanied  by  her  maidservant,  was 
73 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

stopped  by  a  highwayman,  when  the  maid,  in  her  alarm, 
took  up  a  bottle  of  ginger-beer,  and  the  cork  flying 
out  made  such  a  report  that  the  highwayman  in- 
stantly galloped  off  in  great  alarm. 

Hounslow  Heath  was  another  dangerous  district 
for  travellers.  A  terror  here  was  Ned  Halloran — a 
perfect  Macheath  in  real  life,  surrounded  by  doating 
mistresses,  yet  ultimately  betrayed  or  sold  to  the 
officers  of  justice  by  a  favourite  Dulcinea.  This 
dashing  knight  of  the  road  one  evening,  in  the  course 
of  his  professional  avocations  on  the  Heath,  stopped 
a  goldsmith  and  refiner,  a  man  of  considerable 
property  and  importance  in  the  city  of  London,  and 
took  from  him,  without  any  resistance,  his  cash, 
gold  watch,  chain,  and  seals,  and  also  his  buckles, 
and  then  very  politely  wished  his  victim  a  good 
evening.  Ned,  thinking  it  was  all  right  and  safe, 
after  making  a  small  circuitous  round  over  the  Heath, 
put  up  his  horse  at  an  inn  to  take  refreshment. 
His  repast  being  ended,  and  just  as  he  was  ready  to 
mount  his  horse,  the  refiner  rode  into  the  yard,  but 
did  not  recognise  him.  Halloran  left  the  inn  without 
the  slightest  agitation ;  and  in  the  course  of  a  few 
days  afterwards,  strange  to  say,  had  the  effrontery  to 
go  and  offer  the  stolen  articles  to  the  refiner,  upon 
his  counter,  when  the  latter  looked  up  at  Halloran, 
without  betraying  any  appearance  of  recollection,  and 
immediately  saw  the  man  who  had  robbed  him  upon 
Hounslow  Heath.  With  the  utmost  coolness  and  in  a 
business-like  manner,  the  man  paid  him  the  worth  of 
them,  and  Halloran  retired  from  the  shop  in  safety ! 
74 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  refiner  was  what  the  thieves 
termed  a  fence,  or  receiver  of  stolen  goods,  and  Ned 
must  have  been  directed  to  his  shop  by  some  of  his 
own  fraternity.  For  this  reason  the  man  pocketed 
the  affront,  for  fear,  if  any  noise  had  been  made 
about  the  matter,  his  own  iniquitous  practices  might 
have  been  discovered.  At  a  subsequent  period  the 
refiner  in  question  put  an  end  to  his  existence,  to 
avoid  the  disgrace  of  a  public  trial  for  forging  the 
Goldsmiths'  Company's  mark. 

Quite  a  number  of  highwaymen  were  Irish,  and 
endowed  with  a  fair  share  of  that  wit  for  which 
natives  of  the  Emerald  Isle  are  noted.  A  conspicuous 
instance  of  this  was  Brennan,  a  most  desperate 
individual  who,  when  he  was  eventually  captured  in 
the  south  of  Ireland,  drew  to  the  gaol  numbers  of 
people  all  agog  to  see  the  man  who  had  long  been 
a  terror  to  the  country  loaded  with  irons.  Amongst 
the  crowd  was  a  banker,  whose  notes  at  that  time 
were  not  held  in  the  highest  estimation.  In  a  jaunty 
way  he  assured  the  prisoner  that  he  was  very  glad 
to  see  him  there  at  last.  Brennan,  looking  up,  replied, 
"  Ah,  sir,  I  did  not  expect  that  from  you — indeed  I 
did  not ;  for  you  well  know  that  when  all  the  country 
refused  your  notes  I  took  them." 

At  one  period  in  Ireland  highway  robberies  were 
perpetrated  by  regular  armed  bands,  and  during 
the  rebellion  of  1798  it  became  the  regular  practice 
of  certain  bodies  of  insurgents  to  stop  mail-coaches 
and  plunder  them  of  all  the  property  they  were  con- 
veying. 

75 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Of  all  the  loyalists  in  Ireland,  Mr.  John  Claudius 
Beresford,  a  banker  of  Dublin,  was  the  most  obnoxious 
to  the  rebels,  from  the  circumstance  of  the  rough 
treatment  often  inflicted  by  him  and  his  corps  of 
yeomanry,  in  his  riding-house,  on  many  of  their 
number.  Whenever,  therefore,  they  discovered  any 
of  his  notes,  they  always  burned  them  to  vex  him  ; 
by  which  means  he  would  have  become  a  very  rich 
man  had  not  other  unsuccessful  speculations  ruined 
him. 

Though  the  majority  of  highwaymen  seem  to 
have  been  drawn  from  a  low  class  of  the  population, 
there  were  a  few  cases  of  men  of  good  position  taking 
to  the  road  through  desperation.  One  young  sub- 
altern in  a  cavalry  regiment,  for  instance,  having  been 
reduced  to  great  distress  by  extravagance  and  mis- 
fortune, determined  to  risk  a  last  reckless  coup,  and, 
having  heard  that  a  rich  baronet  would  be  passing  a 
certain  spot  after  having  received  a  large  sum  of 
money,  waited  there  till  his  carriage  came  along, 
and  then,  stopping  it,  bade  its  occupant  stand  and 
deliver.  The  Baronet,  noticing  a  certain  gentlemanly 
air  in  the  robber,  presented  his  purse,  watch,  and 
a  diamond  ring,  adding,  "  I  think,  young  man,  you 
are  unaccustomed  to  this  trade,  which  'twere  most 
desirable  you  should  quit  for  ever."  The  robber,  in 
anxious  trepidation,  but  not  uncourteously,  returning 
the  property,  said  "  that  he  must  have  the  larger 
sum,  which  was  concealed  in  the  bottom  of  the 
carriage."  The  Baronet  at  once  acknowledged  the 
accuracy  of  the  highwayman's  information,  and 
76 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

without  hesitation  produced  it,  when  the  robber 
politely  bowed,  and  ordered  the  carriage  to  proceed. 
The  Baronet,  however,  expressing  his  conviction  that 
some  circumstances  of  no  common  kind  had  in- 
duced this  flagrant  breach  of  the  laws,  asked,  as  a 
favour,  that  he  would  grant  him  an  interview  at  some 
future  period.  The  officer  readily  answered  that  he 
knew  he  could  trust  his  life  upon  the  word  of 

Sir ,  and  appointed  the  London  Coffee  House,  on 

Ludgate  Hill,  as  the  place  of  meeting,  precisely  at 
eight  o'clock  in  the  evening,  a  few  days  forward, 
stipulating  that  both  parties  should  be  unattended. 
As  the  day  drew  near  the  Baronet  felt  somewhat  un- 
comfortable at  the  solicited  rencontre,  and  acquainted 
a  military  friend,  whom  he  entreated  to  accompany 
him,  with  the  circumstances,  taking  his  solemn  assur- 
ance that  he  would  not  divulge  anything  of  what  he 
might  become  acquainted  with.  The  Colonel,  though 
he  ridiculed  the  idea  that  a  man  who  had  robbed  an- 
other of  some  thousands  would  so  absurdly  place  his 
life  in  his  hands,  consented  to  go  with  him  to  the  place 
of  meeting.  As  the  time  advanced,  his  banter  of 
the  Baronet's  credulity  increased,  until,  St.  Paul's 
clock  striking  eight,  the  door  opened,  and  a  gentle- 
man, enquiring  for  Sir ,  was  shown  into  his  room. 

Wine  was  ordered,  a  conversation  on  general  topics 
ensued,  and,  at  the  close  of  an  hour,  the  gentleman 
rose,  evidently  under  the  most  severe  feelings  of  em- 
barrassment, which  the  Colonel  seemed  to  partake, 
and  politely  took  his  leave.  The  Baronet  hastened  to 
accost  his  friend  with,  "  Well,  Colonel,  what  think 
77 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

you  of  my  robber  now  ?  Is  he  not  a  gentleman  ?  " 
The  Colonel  coolly  answered,  "  So,  sir,  this  is  the 
highwayman !  On  my  word  he  shall  swing  for  it ;  he 
is  a  lieutenant  in  my  own  regiment."  The  Baronet 
now  reminded  the  Colonel  of  his  solemn  word,  saying 
that  for  all  the  world  he  would  not  permit  it  to  be 
broken,  and  desired  to  know  what  was  the  general 
tenor  of  the  young  man's  conduct.  The  Colonel 
stated  that  it  would  give  him  the  greatest  pain  to  lose 
him ;  that  he  was  a  most  excellent  and  indefatigable 
officer,  an  incomparably  affectionate  husband  and 
father ;  that  he  had  but  one  vice,  to  which  he  attri- 
buted his  destruction,  viz.  gaming  !  that  he  could 
not  screen  so  flagrant  an  offender ;  and  that  the  law, 
however  painful  to  his  own  mind,  must  take  its 

course.     Sir  assumed  a  very  serious  tone,  and 

stated  that  Colonel must  be  personally  answer- 
able to  him  for  any  disclosure,  adding,  "  As  you  have 
given  the  young  man  so  high  a  character  except  in 
regard  to  one  point,  suppose  we  try  to  reclaim  instead 
of  punish  him.  Will  you  lend  your  assistance  ? " 
The  Colonel  expressed  his  readiness,  but  that  the 
magnitude  of  the  crime  utterly  precluded  it.  The 
Baronet  continued,  "  Leave  that  to  me.  He  went 
out  in  extreme  though  suppressed  agitation,  and 
not  a  moment  must  be  lost.  If  you  know  his  haunts, 
fly  to  save  him,  assure  him  not  only  of  my  forgive- 
ness, but  that  if  he  will  pledge  his  word  to  forsake 
this  dangerous  vice,  he  shall  hold  what  he  has  ob- 
tained as  a  gift,  to  which  I  will  add  whatever  may  be 
necessary  to  extricate  him  from  any  other  trivial 
78 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

embarrassment."  The  Colonel  set  out,  confident 
that  he  should  find  him  taking  leave  of  his  wife  and 
family.  He  made  such  haste,  however,  that,  entering 
the  house  soon  after  the  culprit,  he  found  him 
surrounded  by  his  family,  in  an  agony  of  despair. 
The  arrival  of  the  Colonel  convinced  him  that  all 
was  lost ;  and,  falling  on  his  knees,  he  supplicated,  if 
possible,  that  his  fame,  not  his  life,  might  be  spared, 
on  account  of  his  innocent  and  injured  family.  The 
surprise  with  which  he  received,  after  a  severe  lecture, 
the  joyful  intelligence  of  which  the  Colonel  was  the 
bearer  was  naturally  great.  His  repentance  was 
keenly  sincere,  and  he  lived  to  repair  his  error,  and 
be  a  distinguished  ornament  to  society,  rising  in  the 
course  of  a  successful  career  to  a  position  of  high 
military  command. 

Between  the  highwaymen  and  the  bucks  of  the 
middle  of  the  eighteenth  century  there  was  often 
little  to  choose,  and  the  peaceful  citizen  dreaded 
both  alike.  The  Mohawks,  for  instance,  who  beat 
men  and  insulted  women  were  worse  than  any  robber, 
for  in  their  case  the  excuse  of  necessity  was  wanting. 
Reckless,  cruel  braggarts,  they  were  denounced  in 

Heroes  mischievously  gay, 
Lords  of  the  street,  and  terrors  of  the  way  ; 
Flush'd  as  they  are  with  folly,  youth,  and  wine, 
Their  prudent  insults  to  the  poor  confine  ; 
Afar  they  mark  the  flambeau's  bright  approach, 
And  shun  the  shining  train  and  gilded  coach. 

Not  a  few  of  these  truculent  and  bullying  blades 
made  bad  ends.     A  notorious  instance  of  this  was 
79 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Fighting  Fitzgerald,  who  was  eventually  hanged.  He 
once  fought  an  extraordinary  duel  in  Galway,  where 
he  was  quartered  as  a  captain  of  dragoons.  One  day 
he  espied  a  pretty  girl  seated  behind  the  counter 
of  a  tobacconist's  shop  in  that  town,  and  under 
pretence  of  buying  snuff,  got  into  conversation  with 
her.  Whilst  she  was  delivering  his  box  to  him,  the 
fire-eater  seized  her  by  the  arm  and  snatched  a  kiss. 
He  was  then  proceeding  to  further  liberties,  when 
a  tall,  stout  man,  who  had  witnessed  the  whole 
transaction  from  his  own  shop  on  the  other 
side  of  the  street,  entered  and  seized  Fitzgerald's 
arm  as  he  was  pulling  off  the  young  woman's 
neckerchief. 

"  Hullo  !  ye  villain  of  the  world !  "  exclaimed  the 
man,  "  that  little  girl  is  my  own  property,  for  I'm 
betrothed  to  her  these  five  weeks ;  and  if  any  rascal 
dares  to  lay  a  finger  on  her,  he  shall  fight  me  without 
any  delay  at  all." 

"  That  is  not  so  certain ! "  replied  Fitzgerald, 
eyeing  his  athletic  opponent.  "  I  am  a  captain  in  his 
Majesty's  service ;  therefore,  if  I  had  given  you 
offence,  it  is  beneath  the  dignity  of  a  gentleman 
to  fight  with  a  common  shopkeeper,  which  I  take 
you  to  be.  I  shall  merely  wish  you  good  morning  !  " 

"  Shopkeeper  here,  or  jontleman  there  !  "  returned 
the  man,  "  that  won't  save  ye,  my  darling.  My  name 
is  Cornailius  O'Brien ;  I'm  a  leather-cutthur  by 
thrade  ;  and  I'll  have  satisfaction  this  minute,  or  I'll 
brake  every  bone  in  yer  skin.  So  now,  my  dear," 
continued  he,  as  he  shut  the  door,  and  placed  his 
80 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

back  against  it,  "  ye'll  just  be  plaised  to  tell  me  yer 
good-looking  name." 

"  I  am  Captain  Fitzgerald,  sir,  and  I  desire  you 
instantly  to  open  that  door." 

"  Captain  Fitzgerald,  or  Captain  Divil,"  replied 
O'Brien,  "  I'll  not  do  that  same  until  ye  promise  to 
gi'e  me  satisfaction." 

"  Upon  my  honour,  sir,"  returned  Fitzgerald, 
"  I  meant  no  affront  either  to  you  or  the  lady ;  and 
if  I  have  done  so,  I  am  sorry  for  it." 

"  Bigorra  !  then,  my  dear,"  said  Cornelius,  "  ye 
convince  me  that  ye  have  no  honour  at  all,  at  all ;  for 
didn't  I  see  ye  ill-thrate  the  darling,  with  my  own 
eyes  ?  Therefore,  as  ye  have  tould  me  a  lie,  why, 
d'ye  see,  I'll  make  ye  conform  to  the  rules  of  the 
little  county  Galway,  by  fighting  me  directly ;  for 
I  won't  take  yer  promise  to  give  me  satisfaction,  at  no 
price." 

Fitzgerald,  seeing  that  there  was  no  alternative, 
set  his  wits  to  work  to  devise  how  he  should  over- 
come the  leather-cutter,  or  come  off  unhurt.  Having 
adjourned  to  a  room  upstairs,  he  received  a  pistol 
from  his  opponent.  They  then  tossed  up  for  the 
first  shot,  which  fell  to  O'Brien,  upon  which  the  latter 
seated  himself  across  a  table,  and  levelled  his  pistol  so 
exactly  at  Fitzgerald's  head  that  there  appeared 
little  chance  of  his  escaping  instant  death. 

Watching  his  opportunity,  however,  when  the 
tradesman  was  drawing  the  trigger,  Captain  Fitz- 
gerald, at  that  instant,  roared  out  "  Boh  !  "  and  the 
ball  passed  over  his  head  into  the  ceiling.  It  was  now 
G  81 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Fitzgerald's  turn,  but  he  declined  firing,  on  condition 
that  O'Brien  should  ask  his  pardon ;  which,  after 
some  hesitation,  he  agreed  to  do  before  the  young 
lady  in  the  shop,  who  had  all  this  time  been  quivering 
with  terror  at  the  probable  result  of  a  duel  so  singularly- 
conducted. 

At  the  time  of  the  Napoleonic  wars  military  men 
were  occasionally  quite  ungovernable  in  their  be- 
haviour. 

In  July,  1810,  Margate  was  much  disturbed  by  a 
fracas  at  the  Assembly  Rooms  caused  by  two  officers 
who,  during  a  dance  at  the  Assembly  Rooms,  opened 
the  centre  window  of  the  room,  which  being  objected 
to  by  the  ladies,  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  remon- 
strated with  one  of  the  officers,  who  exclaimed, 
"  Never  mind  the  ladies,  we  will  have  a  dance  of  our 
own."  As  the  time  had  closely  approached  when  the 
dances  were  to  terminate,  according  to  the  regulation 
of  the  assembly,  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  ordered 
the  waiter  to  put  out  the  lights ;  but  when  the 
servant  approached  to  fulfil  his  duty,  one  of  the 
officers  seized  the  extinguisher  from  the  man,  which 
he  broke,  and  threw  out  of  the  window,  being  very 
rough  with  the  man  at  the  same  time.  The  master 
of  the  ceremonies,  seeing  his  local  authority  thus 
openly  violated,  approached  to  make  a  second  remon- 
strance, when  the  offending  party  threatened  to 
throw  him  out  of  the  window  after  the  extinguisher  ! 

As  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  found  his  personal 
influence  at  an  end,  and  even  his  life  in  danger,  he 
thought  it  prudent  to  retire  as  fast  as  he  could,  which 
82 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

he  did,  followed  by  the  musicians,  when  the  officers 
ordered  in  a  military  band  and  organised  a  dance  of 
their  own. 

Many  superior  officers  were  very  authoritative  in 
their  methods ;  probably  the  most  autocratic  of  all 
was  Sir  John  Sherbrooke.  In  the  Peninsula  he  was 
especially  stern  with  the  officers  of  the  Commissariat 
Department,  and  would  fly  into  a  thundering  passion 
if  rations  were  not  ready  for  his  men  after  a  day's 
march.  Sir  John  was  actually  reported  to  have  hanged 
a  commissariat  clerk  on  a  branch  of  a  tree  by  the 
roadside  for  disobedience  in  not  furnishing  a  quantity 
of  provisions  at  a  given  time  ! 

Once,  when  within  a  day's  march  of  Wellington's 
army,  no  rations  at  all  were  forthcoming,  and  Sir 
John,  who  had  been  fuming  and  raging  like  a  mad  bull, 
received  the  commissary,  when  he  did  arrive,  in 
anything  but  a  polite  manner,  ending  after  a  stormy 
interview  with  "  Get  out  of  my  house  this  instant,  or 
I'll  kick  you  downstairs." 

The  indignant  commissary,  in  high  dudgeon, 
galloped  off  to  head-quarters,  where  he  complained 
of  the  treatment  he  had  received,  winding  up  by 
describing  how  Sir  John  Sherbrooke  had  actually 
threatened  to  kick  him  downstairs. 

"  He  threatened  to  kick  you  downstairs,  did  he  ?  " 
said  Wellington. 

"  Yes,  my  lord."  (The  Iron  Duke  was  Lord  Wel- 
lington then.) 

"  And  he  did  not  carry  his  threat  into  execution  ?  " 

"  No,  my  lord." 

83 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  Then,  sir,  allow  me  to  congratulate  you  upon 
being  a  very  fortunate  individual,  for  ever  since  I 
have  known  General  Sir  John  Sherbrooke,  which  is  now 
upwards  of  a  quarter  of  a  century,  he  has  always 
been  a  man  of  his  word,  and  my  only  astonishment 
is  that  he  did  not  kick  you  downstairs !  " 

Though  military  bucks  were  a  good  deal  given  to 
swagger,  they  occasionally  met  with  severe  rebuffs. 

An  officer  of  the  Blues,  for  instance,  when  that 
regiment  was  quartered  at  Brighton  at  the  end  of  the 
eighteenth  century,  after  an  evening's  amusement, 
happened  to  jostle  against  a  doctor  whom  he  met  in 
West  Street.  The  man  of  war  drew  his  sword,  and 
was  disarmed  in  a  short  time  by  the  hero  of  the  lancet. 

After  a  short  scuffle  with  fists,  victory  declared 
in  favour  of  the  doctor,  who  did  not  give  the  military 
man  the  usual  grace  of  capitulation,  namely,  that 
"  the  officers  shall  retain  their  swords,"  for  he  took 
it  home  with  him  as  a  trophy  of  his  victory. 

Another  officer,  well  known  for  his  extravagant 
bragging,  once  received  an  effectual  set-back.  Having 
boasted  that  he  had  fought  seven  duels,  and  killed 
his  three  different  men,  one  of  the  company  drily 
replied,  "That  is  nothing,  sir.  I  have  had  eleven 
duels,  in  every  one  of  which  I  killed  my  man,  and 
in  a  twelfth — but  perhaps,  sir,  you  would  like  to  hear 
the  story. 

"  As  a  young  man  I  was,  I  fear,  very  wild ;  being  very 

rich  I  plunged  into  all  sorts  of  dissipations,  drank 

hard,  and  played  deep.     One  night,  being  palpably 

cheated  of  a  large  sum,  I  detected  my  rascal — called 

84 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

him  out — killed  him.  I  did  not  fly  !  I  had  pinked  a 
scoundrel,  and  I  knew  the  world  would  thank  me. 
The  business,  however,  brought  me  into  trouble ; 
for,  thinking  my  courage  a  flash  in  the  pan,  every 
puppy  that  could  look  fierce  was  determined  to  try 
it.  I  saw  it  was  a  concerted  thing  among  them  to 
hamper  me  with  several  affairs  at  once  ;  however,  I 
sustained  many  affronts  unmoved,  and  once  very 
placidly  wiped  my  face  before  hundreds  of  people, 
after  a  coxcomb  had  spit  on  it.  Eventually,  however, 
I  determined  to  act,  and  seeking  out  five  of  the 
bravest  that  had  insulted  me,  and,  challenging  them  at 
different  times  and  places,  I  killed  them  one  after  the 
other,  and  escaped  to  the  Continent.  About  a  month 
after  I  was  in  a  coffee-house,  where  a  gloomy  Swiss 
officer,  as  he  pored  over  the  papers,  seemed  extremely 
offended  at  the  vacant  silliness  of  a  young  Frenchman, 
whom  he  called  out  and  killed  in  ten  minutes.  On  the 
victor's  return  to  the  coffee-house,  I  called  him  out, 
when  by  the  help  of  an  expert  lunge,  I  killed  the  Swiss. 
This  was  my  seventh  man.  The  eighth  was  a  Dutch- 
man, whom  I  was  obliged  to  fight  with  knives  over  a 
table.  Two  years  had  elapsed  since  I  left  England.  I 
returned,  and  got  entangled  with  a  lady,  whose  brothers 
determined  to  massacre  me.  As  I  challenged  and 
killed  them  all  three  the  father  was  resolved  to  have 
a  bout  with  me — a  fine  old  man,  ruddy  complexion, 
silver  hair.  Well,  gentlemen,  what  was  to  be  done  ? 
We  fought — I  lunged  in  tierce  ;  but  not  being  able 
to  recover  from  an  artful  feint  I  had  made,  he  put  in 
an  expert  lunge  in  carte,  over  arm,  and  KILLED  ME  !  " 
85 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

The  boaster,  for  whose  correction  the  story  was 
invented,  swore  he  would  not  believe  it.  This  caused 
roars  of  laughter,  and  the  swaggerer  sneaked  out  of 
the  room  quite  dumbfounded. 

During  the  early  part  of  the  last  century,  when 
many  Englishmen  were  in  France,  French  fire-eaters 
often  attempted  to  hector  them.  Tours  then,  as  now, 
was  largely  resorted  to  by  young  Englishmen  desirous 
of  learning  French ;  and  one  of  them  of  Irish  extraction, 
Captain  Fitzpatrick,  having  a  dispute  one  night,  in  a 
ballroom,  with  a  Frenchman,  the  latter  gave  him  a 
pat  on  his  cheek,  telling  him  he  would  understand 
what  he  meant.  The  Captain  assured  him  he  did  and 
immediately  left  the  room.  The  next  day  no  tidings 
were  to  be  heard  of  him.  He  had  not  taken  post 
horses,  nor  could  his  friends  find  out  in  what  way  he 
had  quitted  Tours,  but  he  was  gone.  In  consequence 
of  this,  strongly  worded  notices  were  stuck  up  at  the 
different  places  he  frequented,  informing  him  he  could 
not  again  be  received  in  the  society  which  he  had  so 
disgraced.  A  month  passed  away,  and  the  affair  was 
almost  forgotten,  when,  during  a  grand  match  at 
billiards,  the  door  opened,  and  in  walked  Captain 
Fitzpatrick.  Striding  up  to  the  Frenchman  with  a 
thundering  stick  in  his  hand,  he  gave  him  what  he 
called  "  a  botherer,"  in  return  for  the  pat  on  the  cheek, 
and  then  called  on  him  to  draw.  No  sooner  had  their 
blades  crossed  each  other  than  the  Frenchman  was 
seen  to  leap  half  a  yard  from  the  ground,  and  to  fall 
dead  on  the  spot.  "  I've  killed  him  !  "  remarked  the 
Captain.  "  My  favourite  thrust !  " 
86 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

It  must  be  admitted  that  the  Frenchman  got  only 
what  he  deserved. 

When  swords  were  generally  worn  some  knowledge 
of  fencing  was  almost  a  necessary  qualification. 
There  were  at  that  time  places  in  and  about  the 
metropolis  which  were  practically  recognised  as 
duelling-grounds,  but  nevertheless  the  duel  was  never 
such  a  recognised  institution  in  England  as  abroad; 
very  rightly  it  always  seemed  more  or  less  repugnant 
to  all  dowered  with  the  national  common  sense. 

The  whole  system  of  duelling  is  an  absurdity 
never  probably  better  demonstrated  than  by  the 
brave  Dutch  Admiral  Van  Tromp.  This  hero,  a 
large,  heavy  man,  was  once  challenged  by  a  thin, 
active  French  officer.  "  We  are  not  upon  equal  terms 
with  rapiers,"  said  Van  Tromp,  "  but  call  upon  me  to- 
morrow morning,  and  we  will  adjust  the  affair  better." 

When  the  Frenchman  called,  he  found  the  Dutch 
admiral  bestriding  a  barrel  of  gunpowder.  "  There 
is  room  enough  for  you,"  said  Van  Tromp,  "  at  the 
other  end  of  the  barrel ;  sit  down.  There  is  a  match, 
and,  as  you  are  the  challenger,  light  the  powder." 

The  Frenchman  was  quite  thunderstruck  at  this 
terrible  mode  of  fighting  ;  and  as  the  Dutch  admiral 
told  him  he  would  fight  in  no  other  way,  a  reconcilia- 
tion was  arranged. 

Probably  the  most  novel  kind  of  duel  ever  fought 
was  the  one  which  took  place  in  Paris  about  1808. 
Two  gentlemen,  M.  de  Granpree  and  M.  Le  Pique, 
having  quarrelled  about  Mademoiselle  Tirevet,  a 
celebrated  opera  dancer,  who  was  kept  by  the  former, 
87 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

but  had  been  discovered  in  an  intrigue  with  the 
latter,  a  challenge  ensued.  Being  both  men  of 
elevated  mind,  they  agreed  to  fight  in  balloons, 
and  in  order  to  give  time  for  their  preparation, 
it  was  determined  that  the  duel  should  take  place 
on  that  day  month.  Accordingly,  on  May  3rd,  the 
parties  met  in  a  field  adjoining  the  Tuileries,  where 
their  respective  balloons  were  ready  to  receive  them. 
Each,  attended  by  a  second,  entered  his  car,  loaded 
with  blunderbusses,  as  pistols  could  not  be  expected 
to  be  efficient  in  their  probable  situations.  A  great 
multitude  attended,  hearing  of  the  balloons,  but 
little  dreaming  of  their  purpose ;  the  Parisians 
merely  looked  for  the  novelty  of  a  balloon  race. 
At  nine  o'clock  the  cords  were  cut,  and  the  balloons 
ascended  majestically,  amidst  the  shouts  of  the 
spectators.  The  wind  was  moderate,  blowing  from 
the  N.N.W.,  and  they  kept,  as  far  as  could  be  judged, 
within  about  eighty  yards  of  each  other.  When 
they  had  mounted  to  about  the  height  of  nine  hundred 
yards,  M.  Le  Pique  fired  his  piece  ineffectually. 
Almost  immediately  after  the  fire  was  returned  by 
M.  Granpree,  and  penetrated  his  adversary's  balloon, 
the  consequence  of  which  was  its  rapid  descent,  and 
M.  Le  Pique  and  his  second  were  both  dashed  to 
pieces  on  a  house-top,  over  which  the  balloon  fell. 
The  victorious  Granpree  then  mounted  aloft  in  the 
grandest  style,  and  descended  safe  with  his  second 
about  seven  leagues  from  the  spot  of  ascent. 

Combe,    the    eccentric    author    of    Dr.    Syntax, 
in   his  spirited   satire,   The  Diaboliad,   introduced   a 

88 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

curious  story  of  a  duel.  Among  its  subjects  were  an 
Irish  peer  and  his  eldest  son,  who  had  a  quarrel  that 
extinguished  any  little  natural  affection  that  might 
have  ever  subsisted  between  them.  The  father 
challenged  the  son  to  fight ;  the  son  refused  to  go 
out  with  him,  not,  as  he  expressly  stated,  because 
the  challenger  was  his  own  father,  but  because  he 
was  not  a  gentleman. 

This  was  written  out  of  revenge,  for  Combe  had 
married  the  mistress  of  a  noble  lord  who  cheated 
him  out  of  a  promised  annuity. 

This  author,  who  wrote  the  Dance  of  Life  and 
the  Dance  of  Death  when  he  was  nearly  seventy,  was 
as  remarkable  for  the  wildness  of  his  youth  as  for  the 
industry  of  his  life,  after  his  fortune  of  some  sixteen 
thousand  pounds,  left  him  by  an  uncle,  had  been 
squandered.  Educated  at  Eton  and  Oxford,  Combe, 
as  a  young  man,  was  very  popular  in  fashionable 
society,  where  his  handsome  appearance  and  courtly 
manner  gained  him  the  nickname  of  "  Duke  Combe." 
It  was,  however,  not  very  long  before  he  paid 
the  usual  penalty  of  extravagance  and  became 
steeped  in  poverty  to  the  very  lips,  being  eventu- 
ally driven  by  lack  of  even  a  morsel  of  bread  to 
enlist.  Billeted  as  a  soldier  at  an  inn  in  Wolver- 
hampton,  he  hurt  his  foot,  and  was  limping  pain- 
fully along  the  high  street  of  the  town,  when  he 
was  met  by  an  acquaintance  who  had  known  him 
in  all  his  fashionable  glory.  This  individual  had 
himself  seen  better  days,  having  exchanged  a  sub- 
lieutenancy  of  marines  for  an  engagement  in  Mr. 
89 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

Kemble's  company.  "  Heavens  !  "  said  the  astonished 
historian,  "  is  it  possible,  Combe,  that  you  can  bear 
such  a  life  ?  "  "  Fiddlesticks  !  "  answered  the  ex-duke, 
taking  a  pinch  of  snuff,  "  a  philosopher  can  bear  any- 
thing." His  theatrical  career,  however,  was  short, 
and  before  very  long  he  became  known  in  the  place 
through  his  conversational  talents.  A  gentleman 
passing  through  a  public-house  had  observed  him 
reading,  and,  looking  over  his  shoulder,  saw,  with 
surprise,  a  copy  of  Horace.  "  What,"  said  he,  "  my 
friend,  can  you  read  that  book  in  the  original  ?  " 
"  If  I  cannot,"  replied  Combe,  "  a  great  deal  of  money 
has  been  thrown  away  on  my  education." 

Combe  also  served  for  a  time  in  the  French  army, 
while  from  a  more  cogent  reason  than  piety  he 
afterwards  entered  a  French  monastery,  and  lived 
there  till  the  term  of  his  novitiate  expired.  He 
returned  to  Britain,  and  took  service  wherever  he 
could  get  it ;  but  in  all  these  dips  into  low  life,  he 
was  never  in  the  least  embarrassed  when  he  met  with 
his  old  acquaintances.  A  wealthy  divine,  who  had 
known  him  in  the  best  London  society,  recognised 
him  when  a  waiter  at  Swansea,  actually  tripping  about 
with  the  napkin  under  his  arm,  and,  staring  at  him, 
exclaimed,  "  You  cannot  be  Combe  ?  "  "  Yes,  indeed, 
I  am,"  replied  the  eccentric  author  without  the  least 
embarrassment. 

Many  of  the  authors  and  actors  of  old  days  were 
thoroughgoing  Bohemians,  and  not  a  few,  following 
the  fashionable  Corinthians  of  the  day,  very  ready 
for  rows. 

90 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

One  of  them,  going  into  an  inn  in  an  especially 
cantankerous  mood,  strolled  into  the  parlour,  where, 
before  a  large  fire  with  his  coat  tails  under  his  arms, 
stood  a  pitiful  imitation  of  buckism,  very  deficient  in 
cleanliness  and  costume.  His  face  was  grimy,  and 
his  neckcloth  of  the  same  tint,  which,  nevertheless, 
was  rolled  in  various  folds  about  his  throat ;  his 
hair  was  matted  and  turned  up  under  a  round,  greasy 
hat  with  narrow  brims,  conceitedly  placed  on  one 
side  of  the  head,  which  noddled  under  it  like  a  shaking 
mandarin.  Thus  equipped,  the  filthy  fop  straddled 
before  the  fire,  which  he  completely  monopolised. 
At  length  he  caught  the  eye  of  the  tragedian,  who, 
in  silent  amazement,  for  the  space  of  half  a  minute 
examined  him  from  top  to  toe,  then  burst  into  a 
hoarse  laugh  and  roared  out,  "  Beau  Nasty,  by  Jove." 
He  then  rose  from  his  seat  and,  taking  up  the  skirts 
of  his  coat,  in  imitation  of  the  other,  turned  his  back 
to  the  fire.  "Warm  work  in  the  back  settlements, 
sir,"  said  he  ;  then,  approaching  still  nearer,  as  if  he 
had  some  secret  to  communicate,  whispered,  though 
loud  enough  for  every  one  to  hear,  "  Pray,  sir,  how 
is  soap  ?  " 

"  Soap  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,  soap  ;   I  understand  it  is  coming  down." 

"  I  am  glad  of  it,  sir." 

"  Indeed,  sir,  you  have  cause,  if  one  may  judge  from 
your  appearance." 

Here  was  a  general  laugh,  which  the  stranger  seemed 
not  to  regard,  but  noddling  his  head,  and  hitting 
his  boots  with  a  little  rattan,  rang  the  bell  with  an 
91 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

air  of  importance,  and  enquired  "  if  he  could  have  a 
weal  kitlet  or  a  matton  chip." 

"  What  do  you  think,"  said  the  actor,  "  of  a  roasted 
puppy  ?  Because,"  taking  up  the  poker,  "  I'll  spit 
you,  and  roast  you  in  a  minute." 

This  had  a  visible  effect  on  the  dirty  beau  ;  he 
retreated  towards  the  door,  his  assailant  following, 
and  saying,  "  Quit  my  sight ;  thy  face  is  dirty,  and 
thy  hands  unwashed.  Avaunt !  avaunt !  I  say."  Then 
replacing  the  poker,  and  returning  to  his  seat,  he 
burst  into  laughter,  in  which  every  one  joined. 

Most  of  the  well-known  inns  were  enlivened  by  the 
presence  of  some  local  character.  "  The  Horns,"  at 
Kennington,  at  one  time  celebrated  for  the  burlesque 
oath  taken  there,  for  many  years  sheltered  a  particu- 
larly striking  example  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Joseph 
Capper,  who  died  there  in  1804,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven.  This  individual  was  born  in  Cheshire,  of 
humble  parents,  and  came  up  to  London,  where  he 
eventually  amassed  a  fortune  in  business,  after  which 
he  settled  down  to  a  sedentary  and  eccentric  life. 
His  disposition  was  curious,  for,  although  he  possessed 
many  amiable  qualities,  yet  he  was  the  most  tyrannical 
and  overbearing  man  living,  and  never  seemed  so 
happy  as  when  placed  by  the  side  of  a  churlish  com- 
panion. For  several  days  he  walked  about  the  vicinity 
of  London  searching  for  lodgings,  without  being 
able  to  please  himself.  Being  one  day  much  fatigued, 
he  called  at  "  The  Horns,"  at  Kennington,  took  a 
chop,  spent  the  day,  and  asked  for  a  bed  in  his  usual 
blunt  manner.  He  was  answered  in  the  same  churlish 
92 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

style  by  the  landlord  that  he  could  not  have  one. 
Upon  this  Mr.  Capper  determined  to  stop,  if  he 
could,  all  his  life,  to  plague  the  growling  fellow,  and 
refused  to  retire.  After  some  altercation,  he  was 
accommodated  with  a  bed,  and  never  slept  out  of  it 
for  twenty-five  years. 

During  that  time  he  made  no  agreement  for  lodging 
and  eating,  but  wished  to  be  considered  only  a  customer 
for  the  day.  For  many  years  he  talked  about  quitting 
his  residence  the  next  day.  His  manner  of  living 
was  so  methodical  that  he  would  not  drink  his  tea 
out  of  any  other  than  a  certain  favourite  cup.  He 
was  equally  particular  with  respect  to  his  knives, 
forks,  and  plates.  In  winter  and  summer  he  rose  at 
the  same  hour,  and  when  the  mornings  were  dark  he 
was  so  accustomed  to  the  house  that  he  walked  about 
the  apartments  without  the  assistance  of  any  light. 
At  breakfast  he  arranged,  in  a  peculiar  way,  the 
paraphernalia  of  the  tea-table,  but  first  of  all  he 
would  read  the  newspapers.  At  dinner  he  also 
observed  a  general  rule,  and  invariably  drank  his  pint 
of  wine.  His  supper  was  uniformly  a  gill  of  rum, 
with  sugar,  lemon-peel,  and  porter  mixed  together. 
His  bill  for  a  fortnight  amounted  regularly  to  £4  1 8s. 
He  called  himself  the  champion  of  government, 
and  his  greatest  glory  was  certainly  his  country  and 
king.  He  joined  in  all  subscriptions  of  a  conservative 
kind.  Extremely  choleric,  nothing  raised  his  anger 
so  soon  as  any  one  declaiming  against  the  British 
constitution.  In  the  parlour  he  kept  his  favourite 
chair,  and  there  he  would  often  amuse  himself  with 
93 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

satirising  the  customers,  or  the  landlord,  if  he  could 
make  his  jokes  tell  better.  It  was  his  maxim  never  to 
join  in  general  conversation,  but  to  interrupt  it 
whenever  he  could  say  anything  ill-natured.  Mr. 
Capper's  conduct  to  his  relations  was  exceedingly 
capricious ;  he  never  would  see  any  of  them.  They 
were  chiefly  in  indigent  circumstances,  and  he  had 
frequent  applications  from  them  to  borrow  money. 
"  Are  they  industrious  ?  "  he  would  enquire.  When 
being  answered  in  the  affirmative,  he  would  add, 
"  Tell  them  I  have  been  deceived  already,  and  never 
will  advance  a  sixpence  by  way  of  loan ;  but  I  will  give 
them  the  sum  they  want,  and  if  ever  I  hear  that  they 
make  known  the  circumstance,  I  will  cut  them  off  with 
a  shilling."  Soon  after  a  new  landlord,  Mr.  Townsend, 
became  landlord  of  "  The  Horns,"  he  had  an 
opportunity  of  making  a  few  good  ready-money 
purchases,  and  applied  to  the  old  man  for  a  temporary 
loan.  "  I  wish,"  said  he,  "  to  serve  you,  Townsend ; 
you  seem  an  industrious  fellow.  But  how  is  it  to  be 
done,  Mr.  Townsend  ?  I  have  sworn  never  to  lend  ; 
I  must,  therefore,  give  it  thee."  Which  he  accordingly 
did. 

Mr.  Townsend  proved  grateful  for  this  mark  of 
liberality,  and  never  ceased  to  supply  his  eccentric 
guest  with  every  comfort  the  house  could  afford. 
What,  however,  was  perhaps  more  gratifying  to  the 
old  man,  he  indulged  him  in  his  eccentricities.  Mr. 
Capper  was  elected  steward  of  the  parlour  fire,  and 
if  any  persons  were  daring  enough  to  put  a  poker  in 
the  fire  without  his  permission,  they  stood  a  fair 

94 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

chance  of  feeling  the  weight  of  his  cane.  In  the 
summer-time  a  favourite  diversion  of  his  was  killing 
flies  in  the  parlour  with  his  cane  ;  but,  as  he  was 
sensible  of  the  ill  opinion  this  would  produce  among 
the  bystanders,  he  would  with  great  ingenuity 
introduce  a  story  about  the  rascality  of  all  French- 
men, "  whom,"  says  he,  "  I  hate  and  detest  and 
would  knock  down  just  the  same  as  these  flies." 
This  was  the  signal  for  attack,  and  presently  the  killed 
and  wounded  were  scattered  about  the  room. 

After  Mr.  Capper's  death  his  will  was  found  written 
on  the  back  of  a  sheet  of  banker's  cheques,  which 
directed  that  his  fortune  of  more  than  .£30,000 
should  be  divided  amongst  his  poor  relations,  £8000 
being  left  to  two  nephews  nominated  executors. 


A  century  or  so  ago  eccentric  characters  were  to  be 
found  in  all  ranks  and  classes  of  society,  and  even 
quite  a  number  of  divines  and  University  Dons  were 
very  unconventional  in  their  habits.  The  principal 
feature  of  University  life,  however,  was  the  leniency 
with  which  the  authorities  treated  undergraduates, 
who  were  often  allowed  extraordinary  licence.  It 
was  a  rough  age  and  Town  and  Gown  rows,  rowdyism, 
and  what  is  now  called  "  ragging  "  were  in  full  swing. 
Though  at  times  a  show  of  firmness  was  made,  the 
chief  culprits  generally  escaped  punishment,  especially 
if  they  were  gentlemen  commoners.  Where  possible 
their  ebullitions  of  spirit  were  overlooked  altogether, 
95 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

even  when  serious  damage  was  inflicted  upon  college 
property. 

Up  to  1819  there  stood  in  the  Quadrangle  of  Christ 
Church,  Oxford,  a  leaden  statue  of  the  god  Mercury, 
which  from  time  immemorial  had  presided  over  the 
fountain.  It  had  always  been  the  butt  of  the  under- 
graduates, in  whose  profane  hands  it  had  more  than 
once  put  on  the  garb  of  a  gentleman  commoner, 
walked  forth  from  its  pedestal,  and  knocked  at  the  door 
of  the  Deanery.  In  the  middle  of  the  Lent  Term  of 
that  year,  however,  the  statue  fell  to  rise  no  more, 
an  occurrence  which  supplied  the  University  with 
jests,  small  talk,  and  wonder  for  months  after. 

There  had  been  a  sharp  frost  for  some  time,  and 
sporting  undergraduates  were  at  their  wits'  end 
what  to  do — some,  indeed,  did  not  scruple  to  say  that 
if  the  weather  did  not  change  they  should  take  to 
reading !  No  hunting  to  be  had ;  shooting  was 
over ;  and  it  was  far  too  cold  for  the  river.  When 
such  men  had  nothing  to  do,  mischief  sooner  or  later 
was  sure  to  follow.  One  dark  night  a  rope  was  pro- 
cured openly  in  High  Street,  and,  concealed  under 
the  silk  folds  of  a  gentleman  commoner's  gown, 
smuggled  into  the  rooms  of  a  sporting  baronet, 
who  had  a  supper  party  that  evening  for  the  con- 
spirators. By  holding  up  the  ends  of  the  rope  at  each 
extremity  of  the  piece  of  water  (which  was  intended 
to  give  ample  protection  to  its  tutelar  deity),  and, 
by  advancing  round  the  circle,  two  good  turns  were 
made  round  the  body  of  the  image,  which,  after  some 
slight  show  of  resistance,  was  pulled  up  with  violence, 
96 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

and  in  the  fall  was  broken  to  pieces — the  hunting 
men  facetiously  shouting,  "  How  the  Mercury  has 
fallen !  We  shall  have  a  thaw."  This,  by  the  by, 
really  occurred,  and  enabled  many  a  hunting  man 
to  witness  a  capital  run  with  Sir  Thomas  Mostyn  two 
days  after.  The  scene  that  took  place  in  the  Quad  the 
next  morning,  the  horror  and  dismay  of  the  Dons, 
the  surprise  and  laughter  of  the  younger  members  of 
the  college,  defied  description.  The  hunting  men 
forgot  their  usual  lounge  to  Randall's  and  Sadler's 
stables,  and  the  reading  men  their  Aristotle,  to  gaze 
on  the  figure  which  lay  prostrate  in  the  fountain. 
The  local  Press  was  filled  with  poetical  effusions  for  a 
month  after,  but  though  a  great  commotion  was 
aroused,  little  attempt  was  made  to  discover  the 
culprits,  who  escaped  the  retribution  they  deserved. 

In  those  days  most  undergraduates  with  any  means 
thought  more  of  sport  than  of  work.  One  of  them, 
working  away  at  an  equation,  was  asked  by  an  ex- 
aminer how  he  was  getting  on.  "  Why,  sir,"  was 
the  reply,  "  I  work  x  pretty  well  when  I  get  him  in 
the  open  ;  but  I  have  just  run  him  to  earth  under  a 
root,  and  for  the  life  of  me  I  cannot  dig  him  out." 

To  not  a  few  a  University  career  meant  merely  a 
time  of  unchecked  revelry  and  enjoyment.  Some 
verses  on  Oxford  life,  written  in  the  early  part  of  the 
last  century,  give  a  good  idea  of  the  unedifying 
existence  then  led  by  those  known  as  "  riding  men." 

Think  not  they  came  in  Oxford's  shades  to  seek 
The  love  of  learning,  or  the  grace  of  Greek  : 
Accuse  not  them,  too  innocently  dull, 
H  97 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Of  harb'ring  knowledge  in  their  cocoa  skull. 

Full  many  a  youth,  whose  cheek  turns  pale  to  look 

On  shunn'd  Castalia,  clears  the  wintry  brook, 

And  though  Parnassus  makes  his  courage  quail, 

Braves  the  broad  horrors  of  the  post  and  rail, 

Then  home  returning,  o'er  the  festive  board 

Where  witless  songs  of  ribaldry  are  roar'd, 

He  stuns  the  ears  of  wond'ring  freshmen  well 

With  moving  accidents  of  flood  and  fell, 

Or  joins  the  chaunt,  and  warms  the  Phallic  strain 

With  spurious  bumpers  of  unpaid  champagne. 

His  courage  rising  as  the  liquor  flows, 

He  boasts  each  art,  and  ev'ry  science  knows  ; 


No  gun  like  his  through  Wytham's  covers  rang, 
No  dog  like  his  can  face  the  badger's  fang, 
None  won  but  he  the  Woodstock  glover's  smile, 
None  bilked  the  turnpike  in  such  topping  style ; 


In  vain  he  sees  his  tradesmen's  bills  expand 
In  fearful  length  from  Bond  Street  to  the  Strand, 
While  yet  no  gold  can  buy  the  art  to  wear 
The  costly  gewgaws  with  a  Brummel's  air, 
While  Hoby's  boots  for  him  refuse  to  shine, 
As  if  his  scout  had  black'd  them  with  port  wine, 
And  doomed  of  fortune  to  be  twice  the  sport, 
He  swallows  blacking,  tho'  he's  dunn'd  for  port. 

It  was  a  thoughtless  age,  and  many  reckless  jokes 
were  played.  One  of  the  most  novel  of  these  was 
perpetrated  by  an  undergraduate,  who,  after  a 
pleasant  dinner  one  evening,  was  so  much  struck 
with  the  irregularity  of  the  steps  in  a  staircase  at  his 
college  as  to  decide  on  rolling  them.  With  the 
assistance  of  some  companions  he  contrived  to  drag 
98 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

a  huge  garden  roller  to  the  topmost  landing,  and 
from  thence  started  it  on  a  downward  career.  In 
the  course  of  its  descent  the  roller  would  certainly 
have  killed  any  one  it  might  have  met.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  a  studious  undergraduate,  who  looked  out  of 
his  doorway  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  tremendous 
row  the  roller  made,  would  have  been  annihilated 
had  he  not  just  drawn  back  in  time  to  allow  it  to  pass 
as  it  came  crashing  down. 

The  life  of  a  subaltern  in  many  a  smart  regiment 
was  much  of  the  same  sort  as  that  led  by  sporting 
undergraduates.  The  younger  officers  were  often  wild 
spirits  who  subjected  newly- joined  comrades  to  ordeals, 
— sometimes  burlesque,  sometimes  serious — when,  for 
some  reason  or  other,  they  felt  doubtful  as  to  the 
new-comer  being  a  welcome  addition  to  their  number. 

Though  the  whole  system  of  ragging  is  morally 
indefensible,  in  some  cases  the  process  in  question 
probably  improved  a  few  rough  diamonds,  whilst, 
when  the  intended  victim  showed  true  mettle,  he 
was,  as  a  rule,  soon  left  in  peace. 

A  good  many  years  ago  the  officers  of  a  certain 
smart  cavalry  regiment  were  much  disturbed  to  hear 
that  a  subaltern,  of  whom  no  one  seemed  to  know 
anything,  was  about  to  join,  and  their  irritation 
was  not  at  all  lessened  when  he  appeared,  his  general 
turn-out  not  being,  in  their  eyes,  up  to  the  regimental 
standard. 

During  the  first  two  or  three  days  after  his  arrival 
several  attempts  were  made  to  draw  him  out,  but 
these  invariably  met  with  complete  lack  of  success, 
99 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

for,  though  the  new  lieutenant  answered  civilly 
enough,  there  was  a  reserve  about  his  replies  which 
completely  baffled  his  interlocutors.  After  mess  he 
retired  early  to  his  quarters ;  and  very  soon  his  un- 
sociable habits  were  bitterly  denounced,  and  at  length 
it  was  decided  to  give  him  some  forcible  intimation 
that  the  regiment  had  decided  he  must  leave. 

Accordingly,  on  a  certain  evening,  when,  as  usual, 
the  unpopular  officer  had  gone  to  his  rooms,  a  select 
band  of  subalterns  went  to  deliver  the  ultimatum. 

Opening  the  door  of  his  sitting-room,  they  found  the 
object  of  their  dislike  sitting  in  an  arm-chair,  smoking 
a  pipe  and  reading.  A  spokesman,  who  had  previously 
been  selected,  then  advanced,  the  others  remaining 
grouped  about  the  door. 

"  We  have  come,"  said  the  spokesman,  "  to  tell  you 
that,  all  things  considered,  we  have  decided  that 
you  are  not  quite  the  kind  of  man  ever  likely  to  suit 
this  regiment ;  from  what  you  have  seen  of  us  you 
must  realise  this  yourself,  and  so  the  best  thing  you 
can  do  is  to  go.  I  may  as  well  add  that  if  you  don't 
choose  to  understand  this  hint,  we  shall  make  it  so 
hot  for  you  that  you  will  have  to  —  so  take  your 
choice." 

Whilst  the  spokesman  was  delivering  this  speech  the 
unpopular  young  soldier  sat  perfectly  unmoved  in 
his  chair,  puffing  at  his  pipe,  apparently  still  reading 
his  book,  which,  however,  when  the  spokesman  had 
finished,  he  shut  with  a  bang.  Then,  rising  to  his 
feet,  he  said  : 

"  Now  you  shall  hear  what  I  have  got  to  say.    I  am 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

going  to  give  you  and  your  friends  a  choice  too. 
There,"  he  said,  pointing  to  the  other  side  of  the 
room,  "  is  the  window,  and  there,"  pointing  to  the 
group  of  officers,  "  is  the  door.  Out  of  one  or  the 
other  the  lot  of  you  will  go,  so  you  had  better  make 
up  your  minds  quickly  as  to  which  of  the  two  you 
prefer." 

This  was  said  in  a  most  determined  manner,  and 
there  was  so  much  fire  in  the  young  fellow's  eye,  his 
whole  appearance  being  threatening  in  the  extreme 
(for  he  was  a  powerful  man),  that  after  a  whispered 
consultation  it  was  decided  to  withdraw.  The  result 
of  this  interview  was  that  the  spirited  defender  of  his 
own  privacy  gained  a  good  deal  of  prestige,  and  before 
very  long,  his  manly  characteristics  being  generally 
recognised,  he  became  one  of  the  most  popular 
officers  who  had  ever  served  in  the  regiment. 

In  this  case,  of  course,  the  subalterns  had  totally 
mistaken  their  man,  whom  they  were  quite  wrong  in 
attempting  to  rag,  but  there  have  been  instances  in 
which  young  fellows  have  pretty  well  deserved  what 
they  got — as  did  the  hero,  or  rather  victim,  of  the 
following,  which  occurred  not  very  many  years  ago. 

A  conceited  young  puppy,  who  belonged  to  the 
militia  battalion  of  a  certain  Highland  regiment, 
boasting  of  a  particularly  glorious  record,  being  asked 
to  a  ball  in  Scotland,  got  into  his  head  the  ridiculous 
idea  that,  as  uniform  was  to  be  worn,  he  might  just  as 
well  remove  the  metal  M  from  his  shoulder  straps — 
the  distinctive  badge  of  militia  battalions — and 
pass  himself  off  as  an  officer  of  the  regular  army. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

As,  however,  luck  would  have  it,  some  of  the  officers 
of  the  two  line  battalions  chanced  to  be  present  at 
the  ball,  and  after  a  careful  inspection  of  their  sham 
colleague,  realised  the  trick  he  was  trying  to  play. 
Determined  to  give  him  a  lesson,  they  contrived  to  get 
him  into  the  rooms  of  one  of  their  party  after  the  ball 
was  over,  tied  him  hand  and  foot,  and  then,  having 
procured  one  of  the  militia  metal  M's  and  heated  it 
red-hot,  branded  the  letter  he  had  discarded  upon 
both  of  his  knees,  after  which  unpleasant  operation 
they  kicked  him  out  into  the  street,  with  the  remark 
that  in  future,  whenever  he  might  wear  a  kilt,  every 
one  would  be  able  to  see  exactly  to  what  branch  of 
the  service  he  belonged  without  bothering  about 
looking  at  his  shoulder  straps ! 


IV 


'  I  ''HE  love  of  gambling  would  seem  to  be  ineradi- 
cable, and  those  addicted  to  play  will  indulge 
their  passion  even  when  reduced  to  the  last  limits  of 
poverty. 

It  is  said  that  a  party  of  highly  speculative  paupers, 
not  being  able  to  obtain  cards,  actually  improvised  a 
pack  out  of  their  old  pawn  tickets,  the  various  articles 
indicated  on  the  tickets  taking  the  place  of  the  usual 
suits. 

"Hang  it,"  said  one  of  the  players  after  losing  a 
game,  "  how  unlucky  I  am ;  but  there,  I  never  seem 
able  to  win  when  trousers  are  trumps." 

A  certain  writer  wrote  an  able  pamphlet  against 
gaming,  in  which  he  denounced  its  wickedness,  and 
detailed  its  horrible  consequences.  The  work  was  just 
ready  to  appear,  and  the  last  proof  was  sent  to  the 
author  for  correction,  when  the  printer's  devil,  having 
waited  a  long  time,  was  unable  to  find  him.  He 
returned  next  day,  and  learnt  that  this  enemy  of 
gambling  had  been  out  all  night,  and  had  lost  at 
play  the  sum  which  his  publisher  had  paid  him  for 
the  work! 

As  a  matter  of  fact  the  school  of  stern  experience  is 
the  only  one  which  ever  \  teaches  wisdom   to  those 
imbued  with  a  passion  of  gambling. 
103 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

A  nephew  of  old  Lord  Leicester  was  seized  with  a 
great  desire  to  go  to  Newmarket,  and  asked  permission 
of  his  uncle.  "  Tom,  my  boy,"  said  the  latter,  "  you 
had  better  keep  away."  But  Tom  was  not  of  that 
opinion.  After  some  discussion,  Lord  Leicester  said, 
"Well,  Tom,  if  you  do  go,  you  must  go  in  proper 
style";  and  he  gave  him  a  capital  horse  to  ride,  a 
servant  to  ride  with  him,  and  made  him  a  present  of 
a  handsome  sum  of  money.  Thus  equipped,  Tom 
sallied  forth.  After  some  days  had  passed  he  re- 
appeared at  Holkham,  but  not  in  the  same  style 
in  which  he  left  it;  he  came  back  alone  and  on 
foot. 

Lord  Leicester  said  to  him,  "Tom,  where  is  the 
horse  ? " 

"  It  is  gone,  sir." 

"  Tom,  where  is  the  servant  ?  " 

"  He  is  gone,  sir." 

"Tom,  where  is  your  money  ?  " 

"  All  gone,  sir ;  and  I  give  you  my  solemn  word  of 
honour,  I  will  never  go  to  Newmarket  again." 

"  It  was  money  well  spent,"  he  used  to  say  in  after 
days.  "  I  kept  my  word,  and  I  have  never  been  near 
Newmarket  since." 

Some  there  are  whom  even  stern  experience  cannot 
teach ;  lack  of  means  alone  can  deter  such  gamblers  as 
these.  Paucity  of  cash  is  generally  recognised  by  even 
the  most  determined  votaries  of  chance  as  a  bar  to 
play.  An  individual,  asked  to  play  cards,  said  to  such 
a  one,  "  No,  I  have  fourteen  good  reasons  against 
gaming."  "  What  are  those  ?  "  "  In  the  first  place," 
104 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  U^ays 

answered  he,  "  I  have  no  money."  "  Enough,"  was 
the  reply  ;  "  if  you  had  four  hundred  reasons  you  need 
not  name  another." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  many  men  like  gambling 
not  merely  from  the  excitement  of  play,  but  because 
of  the  atmosphere  of  amusement  and  vivacity  with 
which  it  is  so  often  connected. 

Even  the  ways  of  sharpers  are  sometimes  highly 
amusing.  One  of  these  men,  who  had  attained  a 
most  unenviable  notoriety  at  foreign  casinos,  was 
one  day  being  interrogated  by  a  cheerful  Bohemian, 
and  spoke  with  amazing  frankness  of  the  various 
methods  which  he  employed.  "  My  most  successful 
coup,"  said  he,  "  was  the  coup  de  whisky  and  soda." 
"  What  was  that  ?  "  asked  the  somewhat  puzzled 
enquirer.  "  I  will  tell  you,"  said  the  sharper.  "  Having 
secured  a  bank  at  baccarat,  I  would,  after  dealing 
once  or  twice  with  none  too  conspicuous  success,  deal 
both  sides  an  eight.  This  being  done,  I  would  ask  the 
waiter  for  a  whisky  and  soda,  delaying  the  game 
whilst  I  drank  it  in  a  leisurely  manner,  turning  round  in 
my  seat  away  from  the  table.  As  a  general  rule  the 
punters,  having  looked  at  their  cards,  and  found  on 
each  side  a  natural  eight,  would  unfairly  determine  to 
profit  by  my  inattention  and  largely  increase  their 
stakes.  My  whisky  and  soda  finished,  I  would  then 
turn  up  my  own  cards,  and  display  the  natural  nine, 
which  I  had  taken  care  should  be  there,  with  profitable 
results  to  my  own  pocket." 

An  insolent  scamp  at  Spa  used  to  cheat  in  open 
daylight,  and  carry  the  thing  through  by  dint  of 
105 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

brass.  Being  once  told  by  a  stander-by,  "  Mais, 
monsieur,  vraiment  vous  trichez,"  he  coolly  answered, 
"  Cela  se  peut,  monsieur ;  mais  je  n'aime  pas  que 
1'on  me  dise,"  and  looked  so  furious  that  the  trick 
passed  off  without  further  observation. 

Another  swindler,  who  used  to  make  a  point  of 
winning  his  way  into  private  gambling  parties  whenever 
he  had  lost  more  money  than  he  could  pay,  turned  his 
back  upon  the  company,  and  going  off,  cried,  "  Kick 
away,  gentlemen,  for  I  have  no  money."  This 
argumentum  a  'posteriori  so  astonished  the  circle  that 
the  knave  effected  his  retreat  unhurt. 

High  gambling  at  cards  in  England  is  now,  except 
upon  rare  occasions,  almost  unknown.  The  days 
when  thousands  could  be  risked  upon  a  throw  of  the 
dice  are  over,  and  most  rich  men  fond  of  excitement 
now  speculate  instead — generally,  let  it  be  said,  with 
equally  disastrous  result. 

In  any  case,  they  have  at  least  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  they  would  have  received  their  gains 
if  stocks  had  gone  up,  a  satisfaction  often  denied  to 
the  lucky  gambler,  who  in  all  ages  has  found  difficulty 
in  getting  paid. 

It  was  an  observation  of  the  celebrated  Earl  of 
Chesterfield,  when  he  was  observed  playing  at  picquet, 
at  Bath,  with  a  little  crook-fingered  baron,  whose 
reputation  was  not  of  the  best,  "  that  he  preferred 
playing  with  a  sharper  to  playing  with  a  gentleman  ; 
for  though  he  might  not  often  win  of  the  former, 
he  was  sure  when  he  did  win  to  get  paid." 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  many  of  the  younger  members 
1 06 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  the  British  aristocracy  in  Lord  Chesterfield's  day 
and  later  were  so  obsessed  by  the  spirit  of  gaming  that 
some  of  them  undoubtedly  preferred  playing  against 
sharpers  to  not  playing  at  all.  A  large  number  of 
unscrupulous  individuals  made  their  fortunes  out  of 
this  destructive  craze. 

A  hundred  years  ago  and  later  the  West  End  of 
London  was  full  of  gambling  houses,  some  of  them  of 
a  very  dubious  description. 

The  proprietors  of  these  hells  were  very  cunning  in 
their  methods,  and  besides  making  a  parade  of  as  much 
gold  as  could  be  brought  into  the  field,  folded  up 
their  bank-notes,  from  one  to  one  hundred,  in  the  most 
attractive  and  tempting  form,  and  laid  them  in  admir- 
able array  on  the  table.  They  were  experts  in  knowing 
how  to  display  their  forces,  so  much  so,  that  whenever 
a  bank-note  was  sent  into  the  pocket  of  a  pigeon,  it 
might  be  considered  as  on  a  voyage  of  discovery, 
whence  it  would  be  sure  to  return  increased  and 
multiplied  to  a  certain  extent.  Some  of  the  houses 
had  notes  issued  by  particular  bankers  wholly  for  their 
service.  They  found  them  more  convenient  than 
the  ordinary  ones,  being  drawn  for  guineas  instead  of 
pounds. 

Flattery  then,  as  now,  was  the  most  efficacious 
weapon  of  sharpers.  "  If,"  once  said  one  of  these 
gentry,  "  I  wanted  to  catch  one  simpleton,  I  would 
hook  him  with  a  bribe ;  if  I  wished  to  catch  twenty, 
I  would  bait  them  with  promises  ;  but  if  I  desired 
to  catch  a  hundred,  I  would  poison  them  with 
flattery." 

107 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 


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Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 


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109 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

These  hells,*  generally,  were  fitted  up  in  a  very 
splendid  style,  and  their  expenses  were  very  great. 
Those  of  Crockford's,  known  as  Fishmongers'  Hall, 
were  not  less  than  one  thousand  pounds  a  week.  The 
next  in  eminence,  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds  a 
week ;  and  the  minor  ones  of  all  (with  the  exception 
of  those  where  English  hazard  was  played,  the  expenses 
of  which  were  trifling)  varied  from  forty  to  eighty 
pounds. 

The  inspectors,  or  overlookers,  were  paid  from  six 
to  eight  pounds  a  week  each;  the  "croupiers,"  or 
dealers,  three  to  six  pounds ;  the  waiters  and  porters, 
two  pounds,  and  a  looker-out  after  the  police  officers, 
to  give  warning  of  their  approach,  two  pounds  also. 

In  order  to  safeguard  themselves  against  unpleasant 
visits  from  the  authorities  the  hells  were  well  fortified 
with  strong  iron-plated  doors,  to  make  an  ingress  to 
them  a  difficult  and  tardy  matter.  There  was  one  at 
the  bottom  of  the  stairs,  one  near  the  top,  and  a  third 
at  the  entrance  to  the  room  of  play.  These  were 
opened  and  closed  one  after  the  other,  as  a  person 
ascended  or  descended.  In  each  of  the  doors  there 
was  a  little  round  glass  peep-hole,  for  the  porters  to 
take  a  bird's-eye  view  of  all  persons  desirous  of  admit- 
tance, in  order  to  keep  out  or  let  in  whom  they  chose. 

Sometimes  the  gaming-house  keepers  were  robbed 
by  their  employes — one  was  swindled  by  his  son.  He 
was  a  partner  in  the  management  of  No.  75  St.  James' 

*  Full  details  of  the  games  played  and  anecdotes  of  the  principal 
frequenters  are  given  in  the  author's  Light  Come,  Light  Go,  published 
last  year. 

no 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

Street,  and,  on  going  into  the  country,  left  one  of  two 
sons  in  charge  of  his  interests  in  the  concern.  He  was 
a  gay,  wild  young  man,  and  he  had  formed  acquaint- 
ances with  the  players  of  his  father's  hell,  as  thought- 
less as  himself.  The  young  man  used,  occasionally,  to 
deal.  It  was  agreed  that  two  of  his  acquaintances 
should  come,  prepared  with  a  little  money,  in  order 
to  play  upon  some  sure  coups  that  he  would  pack  for 
the  purpose.  The  cue  was  given  when  they  were 
coming  off.  This  was  practised  a  few  times  before  it 
was  found  out.  Upon  its  being  detected  a  despatch 
was  sent  off  to  the  father,  who  came  to  town  immedi- 
ately. The  son  remained  in  disgrace  with  his  father  a 
long  time  afterwards. 

The  existence  of  so  many  gaming  houses,  at  not  a 
few  of  which  the  play  was  open  to  suspicion,  of  course 
produced  a  certain  amount  of  crime  and  also  of  suicide. 

The  most  curious  instance  of  this  (said  by  some  to 
have  been  unintentional)  happened  in  the  year  1818. 

A  Polish  nobleman,  who  received  his  income  from 
home  quarterly,  took  lodgings  in  Bury  Street,  St. 
James',  and  soon  began  regularly  to  lose  his  income 
in  the  hells,  which  sprang  up  in  that  locality  like 
mushrooms. 

A  week  after  his  allowance  had  arrived  he  was 
generally  without  a  guinea,  after  which  he  depended 
upon  the  goodness  of  his  landlady  for  all  that  he 
required,  she  being  regularly  paid  out  of  the  next 
quarter's  receipt.  This  Count  was  quite  a  sinecure 
to  No.  5  King  Street,  where  he  constantly  played. 
His  landlady,  who  knew  that  he  gambled,  and  often 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

noticed  him  wretched  and  unhappy,  remonstrated 
with  him  on  such  occasions  upon  the  dreadful  pursuit, 
but  all  in  vain.  He  would  laughingly  observe,  in  his 
foreign  accent,  "  Ah !  my  dear  ladee,  you  tink  I  shall 
shooter  myself  trough  de  head."  One  day  he  returned 
home,  after  losing  his  remaining  money,  and  went 
into  his  bedroom  for  a  pistol,  a  brace  of  which  he 
always  kept  by  him.  His  landlady  came  into  his 
apartments  to  deliver  some  message,  to  whom  he  said, 
"  Now  den  I  shall  shooter  myself,"  upon  which  he  put 
a  small  quantity  of  powder  into  the  pistol.  In  his 
nervous  agitation,  while  losing  at  the  play  table,  he  had 
formed  a  habit  of  twisting  a  rouge  et  noir  marking 
card  in  his  fingers,  till  he  had  made  it  round  and  hard. 
One  of  these  crumpled  cards  he  had  brought  home, 
and  this  he  proceeded  to  put  into  the  pistol.  "  Now 
den,"  he  exclaimed,  "  I  shall  shooter  myself,"  and 
then  fired  into  his  breast.  He  instantly  fell.  The 
card  bullet  had  penetrated,  and  made  a  deep  wound, 
of  which  the  poor  Count  lingered  a  few  days  and 
died.  Before  his  death  he  declared  that  he  had  no 
intention  of  destroying  himself,  and  the  unfortu- 
nate affair  had  been  but  a  joke  to  frighten  his 
landlady. 

Another  unsuccessful  gamester  was  more  lucky. 
This  was  a  certain  captain,  aide-de-camp  to  Lord 
Hutchinson,  who,  after  losing  his  money  at  No.  5 
King  Street  and  No.  77  Jermyn  Street,  went  home 
and,  in  a  fit  of  desperation,  cut  his  throat,  but  did 
not  do  it  effectually,  though  it  was  rumoured  through- 
out the  hells  that  he  was  dead.  On  his  recovery, 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

he  paid  a  visit  to  one  of  them,  and  met  a  friend,  who, 
upon  seeing  him,  exclaimed,  "Well,  I'm  glad  to  see 
you ;  I  never  expected  to  find  you  at  rouge  et  noir 
again.  Why,  they  told  me  that  you  had  cut  your 
throat,  and  were  dead ! "  "  Oh,  no,"  replied  the 
captain  laughingly,  "it's  been  a  case  of  'cut  and 
come  again.' " 

A  well-known  character  at  the  West  End  hells  was 
a  captain  in  the  Navy,  who,  after  losing,  used  to  go 
up  to  the  mantelpiece  and  make  an  angry  oration. 

"  Oh,  you  thundering  thieves ! "  he  would  say. 
"You  cheating  vagabonds !  "  Going  up  to  the  glass 
and  striking  his  head  with  his  hand,  "  Aren't  you  a 
villain  ?  Didn't  I  tell  you  you  would  lose  all  your 
money  ?  "  grinning  at  himself  horribly.  "  You  con- 
summate blockhead  !  you've  undone  yourself." 

Sometimes  his  rage  knew  no  bounds.  On  one 
occasion  he  broke  the  hand-rakes,  threatened  violence 
to  the  people  of  the  house,  and  walked  up  and  down 
the  room  in  the  greatest  agitation.  At  length  he 
approached  the  door,  and,  turning  round,  exclaimed, 
"  You  cursed  villains,  I  wish  I  had  you  on  board  my 
ship ;  I'd  have  you  all  rammed  into  one  of  my  stern- 
chasers,  and  I'd  blow  you  all  to  hell."  The  captain 
then  flew  out  of  the  house  like  a  madman,  foaming  at 
the  mouth,  leaving  the  playroom  convulsed  with 
laughter. 

The  prevalence  of  the  now  obsolete  game  of 
hazard  was  responsible  for  the  break-up  of  many  a 
fine  estate. 

About  the  highest  player  at  this  game  was  Colonel 
i  113 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Mellish,  who  once,  it  is  said,  risked  £40,000  upon  a 
throw  ! 

Another  well-known  gambler  of  past  days  was 
Colonel  Aubrey,  who  literally  passed  his  life  at  play. 
It  was  computed  that  he  had  paid  an  enormous  sum 
for  card-money  at  various  clubs  !  He  was  a  very  fine 
player  at  all  games,  and  a  shrewd,  clever  man,  having 
been  twice  to  India  and  made  two  fortunes.  Accord- 
ing to  report,  he  lost  the  first  on  his  way  home, 
transferred  himself  from  one  ship  to  another  without 
landing,  went  back,  and  made  the  second.  His  whole 
existence,  owing  to  love  of  play,  was  a  continual 
alternation  between  poverty  and  wealth.  He  it  was 
who  originated  the  saying  that  the  greatest  pleasure 
in  life — next  to  winning  at  cards — was  losing. 

Such  men  led  a  very  pleasant  existence  whilst  their 
money  lasted.  Their  whole  life  was  one  long  gamble — 
cards,  cock-fighting,  or  racing.  The  latter  sport  was 
then  in  all  probability  more  enjoyable — and  less  of  a 
commercial  business — than  it  is  to-day. 

About  the  most  sporting  meeting  of  all  in  old  days 
was  Doncaster,  which  for  a  time  was  unique,  and  one 
of  the  most  striking  sights  in  England.  All  the  county 
families  went  there  in  state,  and  the  display  of  beauti- 
ful animals,  and  of  fine  carriages  with  four  or  six 
horses,  must  have  been  wonderful  to  behold. 

A  great  feature  of  this  race  meeting  for  many 
years  was  an  eccentric  character,  James  Hirst,  the 
self-styled  "  Squire  and  Banker  of  Rawcliffe,  near 
Snaith."  This  highly  original  individual  avowed  his 
hostility  to  all  Government  measures,  as  far  as  re- 
114 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

garded  the  levying  of  imposts,  and  by  every  means  con- 
sistent with  human  ingenuity  avoided  the  payment 
of  direct  and  indirect  taxes.  The  drag  in  which  he 
drove  on  to  the  course  much  resembled  the  carriage 
of  a  chaise,  with  four  large,  light  cart  wheels  of  equal 
size,  but  of  more  rude  workmanship  than  any  timber 
carriage  ever  seen.  The  body  of  the  vehicle  was 
composed  entirely  of  hazel  sticks,  platted  and  secured 
with  strong  cord  ;  it  had  a  head  imitating,  and  of  the 
height  of,  a  phaeton,  but  covered  with  the  most 
miserable  patched  check  servants'  bed  furniture.  A 
curtain  of  similar  materials  shaded  his  visage  from  the 
sun.  The  seat  was  also  as  high  as  the  oldest-fashioned 
phaeton  ever  seen.  His  servant,  or  groom,  was  seated 
on  the  bottom  of  the  body  of  this  Robinson  Crusoe 
carriage,  with  his  feet  near  the  horse's  hocks,  and 
drove  one  horse,  going  at  the  rate  of  nine  miles  an 
hour.  Hirst  made  a  practice  of  attending  at  least 
one  day  in  every  Doncaster  meeting,  and  did  so  in 
this  or  a  similar  conveyance  for  years,  even  beyond 
the  memory  of  man.  At  eighty-seven  he  was  of  very 
agreeable  countenance  and  prepossessing  manners,  with 
long,  white,  hermit-like  beard  and  hair ;  fair  com- 
plexioned.  His  hat,  of  large  dimensions,  was  com- 
posed of  lamb-skin,  thrown  over  the  back  of  his 
carriage.  He  wore  a  pair  of  plaid  trousers.  No  one 
knew  whether  to  say  he  had  on  shoes  or  boots  ;  they 
were  perfect  nondescripts,  with  soles  made  of  cork 
an  inch  thick,  and  shod  with  iron.  This  singular 
character  had  been  a  great  sportsman  in  his  time, 
and  not  liking  to  pay  the  tax  on  horses,  at  one  time 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

drove  two  mules,  sometimes  accompanied  by  a  wolf, 
secured  by  a  chain  under  his  carriage,  at  others  by 
a  fox,  both  of  which  followed  as  orderly  as  would  a 
dog  secured  in  similar  manner.  He  hunted  several 
seasons,  occasionally  with  the  Badsworth  hounds, 
riding  a  bull,  which  he  had  trained  to  carry  him. 
He  taught  a  pig  to  find  his  game,  and  point  when 
shooting,  and  on  such  occasions  was  accompanied  by 
a  boy  on  a  mastiff  dog,  carrying  a  sort  of  pannier  or 
game-bag.  He  was  esteemed  a  good  shot,  and  in  his 
latter  years  was  a  would-be  banker,  and,  to  the  extent 
of  his  business,  did  it  better  than  most  men  of  that 
trade.  His  bank-notes  were  ornamented  with  a 
curious  device,  and  were  issued  by  his  groom  at  six- 
pence each,  though  only  payable  for  five  half-pence. 
The  signature  and  his  age,  written  by  this  old  man  of 
eighty-seven,  were  drawn  out  as  being  issued  for  the 
Governor  and  Company  of  the  "  Escumhorn  Bank  of 
Rawcliffe,"  and  the  notes  were  regularly  paid  on 
presentation  by  any  curious  passing  traveller.  He 
had  for  many  years  his  coffin  in  his  house ;  it  was 
fitted  up  and  used  as  a  cupboard.  He  was  as  eccentric 
in  everything  else,  and  on  one  occasion,  when  his 
stackyard  was  on  fire,  though  it  was  so  contiguous 
to  his  house  that  the  whole  was  in  danger,  he  sat 
with  great  composure,  and  could  not  be  prevailed 
upon  to  move,  either  to  secure  his  own  safety  or 
property,  his  observation  being  "  he  was  satisfied 
to  die  when  and  as  Providence  should  ordain." 

Hirst  had  originally  been  a  tanner,  but,  finding  that 
his    business    much    interfered   with   his    odd    ways, 
116 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

had  freed  himself  from  its  trammels,  and  devoted  his 
life  entirely  to  his  whimsical  and  eccentric  propensities. 
His  habitation  was  one  of  the  most  curious  places  in 
Yorkshire,  the  rooms  being  hung  round  with  agricul- 
tural implements  of  every  description,  and  pieces 
of  old  iron,  nails,  and  other  rubbish.  The  inmates 
consisted  of  himself  and  a  man  and  a  woman  servant, 
to  which  he  added  a  tame  fox,  an  otter,  and  a  bull. 
This  he  rode  during  his  shooting  excursions,  being 
then  also  attended  by  pigs  and  dogs,  the  former,  as 
has  been  said,  trained  to  scent,  the  latter  to  carry  the 
game.  He  set  the  greatest  value  upon  a  waistcoat 
which  he  had  formed  from  the  front  parts  of  the 
drake's  neck,  and  to  obtain  which  he  had  solicited  the 
surrounding  villages.  He  had  three  bulls,  which  were 
kept  for  the  sole  purpose  of  baiting  at  country  feasts, 
after  which  his  man  generally  collected  from  the 
populace. 

James  Hirst  died,  aged  ninety-one,  at  Rawcliffe,  in 
October,  1830,  and  his  funeral  was  a  most  extra- 
ordinary one.  It  was  his  express  wish  to  be  carried 
to  the  grave  by  eight  old  maids,  each  of  whom  was 
to  be  paid  los.  6d.  for  her  trouble  ;  and  if  this  could 
not  be  effected,  eight  widows  were  to  be  engaged 
at  2s.  6d.  each  to  perform  the  same  service.  The 
former  wish,  however,  could  not  be  complied  with, 
either  from  want  of  a  sufficient  number,  or  from  a 
desire  of  not  publicly  acknowledging  a  designation 
of  such  a  contumelious  and  appalling  import.  The 
funeral  proceeded  from  the  house  to  the  chapel, 
about  four  o'clock.  The  corpse  was  borne  by  eight 
117 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

widows,  and  a  solemn  tune  was  performed  the  while 
with  a  bagpipe  and  fiddle,  the  former  being  played 
by  a  Scotch  shepherd,  and  the  latter  by  an  inhabitant 
of  Rawcliffe.  During  the  ceremony,  the  chapel 
was  crowded  to  excess ;  and  the  crowds  of  spectators 
from  the  surrounding  villages  flocked  to  witness  the 
obsequies  to  a  man  whose  eccentric  habits  had  become 
proverbial  throughout  the  district. 

With  reference  to  Hirst's  pointing  pig — another 
man,  a  keeper  in  the  New  Forest,  also  broke  a  pig  to 
point  game,  and  various  conjectures  were  made  as  to 
how  this  was  effected.  One  man  stoutly  maintained 
"  that  the  pig,  from  the  time  of  his  being  farrowed, 
was  fed  on  nothing  but  partridge  bones  "  ! 

A  great  character,  though  quite  in  another  way, 
was  Lord  Barrymore,  whose  turf  career  began  in  1787. 

Lord  Barrymore  was  considered  the  best  gentleman 
rider  of  his  day,  but  nevertheless  he  was  not  a  very 
keen  sportsman.  He  was  too  impatient  of  gratification 
in  all  his  undertakings  to  excel  in  those  which  entailed 
patience  and  fatigue.  He  could  ride  boldly,  but  did 
not  always  display  courage  out  hunting,  when  he 
sometimes  retreated  from  leaps  which  his  associates 
went  at.  As  a  rider  to  hounds,  indeed,  he  was  highly 
inconsistent,  and  one  day  would  plunge  with  his 
horse  into  the  Thames  and  swim  to  the  other  side, 
and  a  few  days  after  hesitate  to  fly  over  a  small 
hedge. 

The  turf  proved  fatal  to  his  purse,  and  during  four 
years  cost  him  some  hundred  thousand  pounds,  after 
which  he  set  out  to  better  his  judgment  with  the 
118 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

most  abandoned  boxers,  and  adopted  both  the 
principles  and  practice  of  his  Bohemian  friends 
and  contemporaries. 

These  necessitous  and  rapacious  sharks,  having  once 
secured  the  weak  side  of  this  reckless  peer,  never 
abandoned  him  (nor  he  them)  to  the  day  of  his 
death. 

Lord  Barrymore's  disreputable  friends  introduced 
him  to  a  curious  circle.  He  became  one  of  a  learned 
company  of  disputants  in  a  sixpenny  debating  society 
in  the  country  town  of  Reading.  Here  Lord  Barry- 
more  gave  one  hundred  and  twenty  pounds  to  enlarge 
the  room  of  a  public-house  where  the  meeting  was 
held,  at  the  very  moment  when  as  many  solicitous 
claimants  were  clamouring  for  payment. 

In  this  debating  society  he  would  hold  forth  in 
vindication  of  the  conduct  of  that  Parliament  of  which 
he  had  "  the  honour  to  be  a  member,"  respecting 
the  "  slave  trade,"  and  animadverted  largely  upon 
justice  and  humanity.  Recalling  his  political  ex- 
periences in  the  House  of  Lords,  he  said  that  he 
"  remembered  having  attended  an  important  debate  in 
the  House,  but  unfortunately  had  forgotten  on  which 
side  he  had  given  his  vote." 

A  very  few  weeks  before  his  tragic  death,  which 
occurred  through  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  musket, 
he  submitted  for  discussion  the  following  question  : 

"  Whether  it  would  be  a  derogation  of  dignity  for 
a  British  senate  to  interfere  with  the  executive  power 
of  France,  to  spare  the  life  of  Louis  XVI,  late  King 
of  the  French  ?  " 

119 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

His  lordship,  in  an  opening  speech,  called  upon  one 
of  his  Bohemian  cronies  (who  he  said  had  come 
purposely  from  London)  to  open  the  debate.  The 
individual  in  question  rose,  determined  to  attract 
general  attention,  which  he  did,  by  somewhat  un- 
expected means,  addressing  the  chairman  as  follows  : 

"  My  worthy  friend,  the  noble  lord  on  my  left, 
possesses  every  virtue  that  can  possibly  adorn  the 
human  heart." 

Attended  by  the  same  man,  Lord  Barrymore 
frequented  low  billiard  -  rooms,  where,  during  the 
progress  of  a  game,  he  indulged  in  all  sorts  of  pranks. 
Sometimes,  for  instance,  he  would  produce  a  couple  of 
fowls  from  the  poulterer's,  suspending  each  by  a 
string,  stripping  to  his  under  silk  jockey  waistcoat, 
making  the  egg  sauce,  laying  the  cloth,  drilling  the 
landlord,  smoking  (at  the  same  time)  his  Dutch 
pipe,  and  indulging  in  all  those  brilliant  effusions  of 
fancy  that  in  one  of  inferior  order  would  have  been 
deemed  the  effects  of  intellectual  sterility,  or  in 
plainer  language,  downright  stupidity. 

His  last  effort  of  local  popularity  was  the  institution 
of  a  catch  club  or  bacchanalian  society  at  the  little 
town  of  Wokingham,  upon  the  verge  of  Windsor 
Forest,  to  which,  at  the  distance  of  thirty-two  miles, 
his  musical  toadies  and  Bohemian  dependents  were 
occasionally  summoned  to  spend  an  evening. 

A  very  different  kind  of  noble  sportsman  was 
"  Old  Q,"  whose  unvarying  successes  on  the  turf,  when 
Lord  March,  not  a  little  disconcerted  the  knowing 
ones.  They  falsely  calculated  on  the  usual  quantum 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

of  folly  to  which  lords  were  generally  supposed  to  be 
entitled,  chiefly  owing  to  their  neglected  education. 
In  Lord  Anson,  on  the  other  hand,  they  found  a  rich 
harvest.  The  treasure  of  the  Spanish  galleon  became 
the  prize  of  some  sharpers  at  Bath  ;  on  which  occasion 
it  was  observed  "  that  Lord  Anson  had  been  round 
the  world,  and  over  the  world,  but  never  in  the  world." 

Another  noble  supporter  of  the  turf  was  the 
twelfth  Earl  of  Derby,  who  not  only  delighted  in 
racing,  of  which  he  was  a  supporter  for  nearly  sixty 
years,  but  was  also  without  question  the  most  cele- 
brated cocker  of  either  ancient  or  modern  days, 
and  in  this  light  never  had  his  equal.  During  his  life 
he  fought  more  mains,  and  very  generally  successfully, 
than  any  person  ever  known.  His  birds,  to  which  he 
was  extremely  partial,  were  by  judicious  breeding 
brought  to  the  finest  possible  perfection  ;  and  nothing 
inspired  the  noble  lord  with  more  pleasure  and 
gratification  than  the  English  game  cock.  Indeed, 
favourite  birds  were  occasionally  even  brought  to  him 
in  the  splendid  drawing-room  at  Knowsley  ! 

In  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century 
Tattersall's  presented  a  very  comprehensive  picture 
of  the  sporting  world.  Here  assembled  peers,  baronets, 
members  of  Parliament,  turf  gentlemen  and  turf 
servants,  jockeys,  grooms,  horse-dealers,  gamblers,  and 
spies,  and  here  could  be  seen  the  oldest  and  some 
of  the  best  blood  in  England,  rigged  out  like  coachmen, 
or  like  the  whippers-in  of  a  pack  of  hounds.  In  one 
place  master  and  man  consulted  about  the  purchase 
or  the  sale  of  a  horse ;  in  another  a  person  of  rank 


Sporting  Days   and  Sporting  Ways 

would  be  taking  advice  of  a  horse  jockey  or  a  dealer 
on  the  subject  of  some  match  or  race.  A  prominent 
figure  was  the  fat  grazier  or  flashy  butcher,  aping  the 
gentleman,  in  flash  sporting  rig  and  new  boots,  come 
in  order  to  pick  up  a  bargain.  One  corner  displayed  the 
anxious,  disappointed  countenance  of  a  seller  ;  the 
opposite  one  discovered  the  elate,  yet  perhaps  com- 
pletely gulled,  buyer,  who  was  paying  cent  per  cent 
for  fashion,  or  half  as  much  again  for  a  pedigreed  horse 
as  he  was  worth,  the  pedigree  in  question  having 
probably  been  made  out  only  by  the  horse-dealer. 
In  the  centre  of  the  crowd  stood  idlers,  loungers, 
gentlemen  who  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  attend  sales 
without  purchasing,  and  to  promenade  the  parks 
without  knowing  or  being  known  to  any  one.  These 
were  discernible  by  the  apathy  of  their  unmoved 
features.  A  little  aside  stood  some  parliamentary 
characters,  talking  of  the  last  night's  debates.  There 
two  puppies  were  conversing  about  their  mistresses. 
Just  by  the  entrance  was  a  band  of  gaudy  ruffians 
canvassing  the  merits  of  some  racehorse  ;  and  without 
stood  a  knot  of  exquisites,  discussing  the  charms  of 
the  latest  beauty.  At  the  sale  itself  there  was  gener- 
ally a  sprinkling  of  the  military — half  a  dozen  dragoons 
and  some  life-guardsmen,  dressed  half  en  bourgeois^ 
half  a  la  militaire,  together  with  a  crooked  gambler  or 
two  and  a  sporting  parson. 

The  founder  of  Tattersall's  was  also  the  owner  of  the 
celebrated  Highflyer,  and  at  one  time  the  Hammer 
and  Highflyer,  in  allusion  to  Mr.  Tattersall's  vocation, 
was  a  very  favourite  toast. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

The  original  Subscription  Rooms  were  first  opened 
about  1789,  with  about  seventy-six  subscribers  belong- 
ing to  the  racing  aristocracy  of  that  day.  Only  about 
1800  were  some  dozen  bookmakers  admitted,  amongst 
them  Crockford,  the  two  Elands,  Jerry  Cloves, 
Andrew  Simpson,  and  others.  The  whole  dozen 
made  fortunes,  and  ended  their  lives  as  rich  men, 
which  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  considering  the 
reckless  wagering  of  those  days.  Crockford's  memory 
still  survives  owing  to  the  celebrated  gaming  house 
in  St.  James'  Street,  which  brought  him  so  much 
wealth  in  the  forties  of  the  last  century.  As  a  turf 
speculator  he  possessed  an  extraordinary  facility  for 
calculation,  and  is  said  to  have  been  the  first  to  intro- 
duce betting  about  "  double  events,"  with  consider- 
able profit  to  himself.  Though  an  uneducated  man, 
he  was  agreeable  and  pleasant  in  his  dealings,  besides 
which  he  seemed  to  know  the  business  of  everybody 
else  as  well  as  his  own,  without  being  obtrusive  or 
pushing.  Of  all  games  of  chance  he  had  a  thorough 
and  undisputed  knowledge. 

Jem  Bland,  though  he  could  scarcely  read  and 
could  not  write,  had  a  marvellous  memory,  which 
enabled  him  to  remember  every  bet  he  had  made 
during  the  day.  In  the  evening,  when  he  went  home, 
he  would  tell  his  wife  what  he  had  done,  and  she 
would  then  register  the  bets.  A  mistake  in  his  accounts 
was  scarcely  ever  known. 

Jerry  Cloves,  in  spite  of  having  started  life  as  an 
ostler,  was  a  man  of  refined  manner,  very  quiet  and 
unpretending ;  he  was  considered  a  very  safe  man  at 
the  Corner — good  for  any  amount. 
123 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Amongst  the  original  subscribers  were  the  Dukes 
of  Grafton,  Kingston,  Portland,  and  Beaufort,  Lords 
Darlington,  Scarborough,  Fitzwilliam,  Clarendon, 
and  Oxford.  Sir  Charles  Bunbury,  a  pillar  of  the  turf 
of  that  day,  was  of  course  a  member,  as  was  Captain 
(afterwards  Colonel)  Mellish,  who  cut  such  a  brilliant 
figure  on  the  turf  for  a  few  years,  and  died  at  the 
comparatively  early  age  of  thirty-seven. 

At  Tattersall's,  too,  might  be  seen  the  celebrated 
Colonel  Dennis  O' Kelly,  owner  of  Eclipse. 

Mr.  Tattersall  himself,  curiously  enough,  was 
his  exact  opposite  in  most  things.  Of  this  celebrated 
sporting  character  the  following  epitaph  —  a  good 
specimen  of  a  particular  sort  of  jeu  d'esprit  very 
popular  in  the  past — was  written  : 

Of  the  turf  when  he  quits  it  O'Kelly  may  say — 

Of  its  pleasure  and  profit  have  I  had  my  day ; 

And  on  it  have  Charlotte  and  I  danc'd  the  Hay  : 

But  what  by  this  turf  in  return  will  be  said, 

When  beneath  its  cold  surface  O'Kelly  is  laid ! 

Why,  that  he  who  once  had  all  the  turf  to  himself, 

And  suffer'd  no  shares  in  ill-gotten  pelf, 

But  hedged  off  and  on  till  he  always  rose  winner — 

This  militia  man  bluff,  this  chairman  so  rough,  and  this  jockey 

so  tough, 

Of  turf  now  possesses  not  more  than  enough 
To  cover  the  body  of  one  wretched  sinner  ! 

Another  epitaph,  that  on  Tetherington,  a  well- 
known  betting  man  and  contemporary  of  O'Kelly, 
was  more  terse  : 

The  ups  and  downs  of  life  he  knew, 

Yet  always  full  of  whim, 
Upon  the  turf  he  wealthy  grew, 

But  now  the  turf's  on  him. 
124 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Billiards,  now  seldom,  if  ever,  used  as  a  medium  for 
gambling,  was  very  popular  for  wagering  purposes  in 
the  past.  At  one  time  its  principal  exponent  was  a 
highly  curious  eighteenth-century  character  named 
Andrews,  whose  whole  existence  was  centred  upon  the 
game,  to  attain  proficiency  at  which  he  sacrificed  days, 
nights,  weeks,  months,  and  years. 

Eventually  he  arrived  at  such  a  degree  of  perfection 
in  the  theoretical  as  well  as  in  the  practical  part  of 
the  game,  that  there  was  no  player  in  England,  and 
it  may  be  added,  with  equal  truth,  in  any  part  of  the 
world,  who  could  equal  him,  except  one,  the  celebrated 
Abraham  Carter,  who  kept  the  tables  at  the  corner 
of  the  Piazzas,  Russell  Street,  Covent  Garden. 

Andrews  was  the  most  devoted  adept  of  this 
game  that  ever  nature  produced;  he  seemed  but  to 
vegetate  in  a  billiard-room,  and,  indeed,  he  did  little 
more  anywhere  else.  He  was  a  perfect  billiard 
valetudinarian,  in  the  most  rigid  signification  of  the 
expression.  He  ate,  drank,  slept,  walked,  nay,  talked 
but  to  promote  the  system  of  the  three  balls.  His 
regime  consisted  merely  of  tea,  toast,  and  butter, 
which  formed  his  breakfast,  dinner,  and  supper. 

Owing  to  his  great  skill,  Andrews  won  considerable 
sums  of  money,  and  this  caused  him  to  despise  small 
stakes,  and  when  he  was  playing  for  five  or  even  ten 
pounds  a  game,  he  would  not  take  the  least  pains  to 
win.  There  was  a  latent  finesse  in  this,  but  it  did  not 
operate  to  his  advantage.  He  was  always  lying  by  for 
great  bets,  but  as  they  were  but  seldom  offered,  the 
strength  of  his  play  being  very  well  known,  the  small 
125 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

sums  which  he  was  perpetually  losing  ran  into  a  very- 
considerable  amount. 

Andrews,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  played  for  larger 
stakes  than  any  votary  of  the  cue  who  had  preceded 
him.  With  one  amateur  player,  a  certain  colonel,  he 
had  a  standing  match  of  a  hundred  pounds. 

From  him  one  night  he  won  more  than  a  thousand 
pounds,  when  the  colonel  begged  Andrews  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  City  next  morning  in  order  to 
transfer  stock  to  him  of  the  amount  lost. 

The  couple  started  in  a  hackney  coach,  and,  when 
the  time  came  to  get  out,  tossed  up  who  should  pay 
for  it.  Andrews  lost,  and  upon  this  small  beginning 
he  was  excited  to  continue  till  he  had  lost  the  whole 
sum  he  won  the  night  before  at  billiards.  When  the 
coachman  stopped  to  set  down,  he  was  told  to  get 
up  again,  and  drive  them  back,  as  they  had  no  occasion 
to  get  out. 

By  these  pursuits  he  lost  very  considerable  sums 
which  he  had  won  at  billiards,  and  in  a  few  years 
hazard,  and  other  games  of  chance,  stripped  him  of 
every  shilling  he  could  command.  He  had  still  left  a 
small  annuity,  which  he  endeavoured  to  dispose  of, 
but  it  was  so  secure  that  he  could  not  sell  it,  otherwise 
it  is  most  probable  that  it  would  soon  have  been 
disposed  of  at  the  gaming  table.  It  might  be  said 
that  he  was  compelled  to  eat  in  spite  of  his  teeth. 
In  his  last  days  he  lived  in  a  retired  manner  in  Kent, 
where  he  declared  to  an  intimate  old  acquaintance 
that  he  never  knew  contentment  while  he  was  rolling 
in  money,  but  when  he  was  obliged  to  live  on  a  scanty 
126 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

pittance  he  thought  himself  one  of  the  happiest 
men  in  the  world. 

Not  content  with  losing  their  money  by  the  usual 
and  unfailing  channels  of  the  turf  and  the  gaming 
table,  sporting  men  were  fond  of  queer  wagers  in  old 
days,  some  of  which,  made  more  in  the  spirit  of  true 
sport  than  from  greed  of  gain,  deserve  not  to  be  for- 
gotten. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1813,  Lord  Charles  Kerr 
made  a  match  with  J.  Cock,  Esq.,  jun.,  to  play  a 
game  of  cricket,  his  lordship  backing  his  servant, 
James  Bridger,  and  his  dog  Drake,  against  Mr.  Cock, 
with  Wm.  Wetherell.  The  match,  which  was  for 
fifty  guineas  a  side,  was  played  at  Holt  Pound  Cricket- 
ing Ground,  near  Farnham,  Surrey,  on  Monday  the 
1 6th  of  August,  1813.  The  post  assigned  to  Drake 
was  that  of  catching  the  ball,  the  only  way,  indeed, 
in  which  he  could  be  serviceable ;  but  as  he  always 
caught  it  at  the  first  bound,  he  was,  perhaps,  a  more 
expert  and  efficient  partner  than  many  bipeds. 

The  following  was  the  result  of  the  game  : 

FIRST  INNINGS,  LORD  C.  KERR. 

Bridger   50  caught  out  by  J.   Cock. 

Drake o 

J.  Cock 6  caught  by  Bridger. 

Wetherell   o  run  out  by  Drake. 

Mr.  Cock  then  gave  up  the  match,  and  paid  the 
wager.     The  way  in  which  Drake  ran  Wetherell  out 
was  this :  Wetherell  hit  the  ball  smartly  for  a  run, 
127 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

but  Drake  ran  after  the  ball  so  much  faster  than 
the  former  expected,  stopped  it  so  well,  and  delivered 
it  so  quick  to  his  partner  Bridger,  that  Wetherell 
was  thrown  out  without  getting  a  run. 

At  the  commencement  of  the  nineteenth  century 
shooting  matches  between  sportsmen  came  into  great 
vogue.  In  October,  1819,  for  instance,  a  contest  of 
this  sort  took  place  at  Puckeridge,  Herts,  between  a 
Mr.  Bretts  and  Mr.  Stebbing,  of  Heston,  who  had 
challenged  any  man  in  England  at  a  day's  partridge 
shooting.  The  two  competitors  began  their  operations 
at  daybreak,  each  of  them  having  with  him  a  friend 
of  his  rival,  a  boy,  and  a  pony. 

Mr.  Bretts  won  the  toss  for  the  choice  of  direction, 
both  being  strangers  to  the  country,  and  he  shot  on 
the  south-west  side  of  the  London  road,  towards 
Wadesmill,  and  brought  to  bag  sixteen  and  a  half 
brace  of  birds  in  twenty-five  shots.  Mr.  Stebbing  took 
a  direction  north-west,  bordering  on  the  Stanley 
enclosures,  then  doubling  in  a  direction  towards 
Cambridge,  and  killed  eighteen  brace  of  birds  in 
thirty-one  shots.  They  shot  till  dark,  and  tired  two 
brace  of  dogs  each. 

A  few  days  later  a  similar  match  took  place  between 
Captain  Thornhill,  one  of  the  best  shots  in  Hampshire, 
and  Strong,  the  keeper  to  J.  A.  Thorn,  Esq.,  of 
Melbourn  Manor,  Oxon,  who  should  bag  the  greatest 
number  of  pheasants  and  partridges  by  four  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.  They  began  two  miles  from 
Watford,  Herts,  the  Captain  taking  his  course  toward 
Wycomb,  and  Strong  a  course  between  Barnet  and 
128 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

St.  Albans.  It  was  a  challenge  of  the  Captain's 
against  all  England,  taken  up  by  Mr.  Thorn  producing 
a  man.  The  keeper  bagged  nine  hares,  seven  pheasants, 
and  eleven  partridges;  and  Captain  Thornhill  killed 
sixteen  partridges,  five  pheasants,  and  six  hares,  making 
a  tie.  Each  competitor  had  a  pony  and  a  brace  of  dogs. 
A  renewal  of  the  match  between  the  same  parties 
took  place  on  Thursday,  October  2ist,  the  bet  being 
doubled  between  Mr.  Thorn,  for  his  keeper,  and 
the  Captain.  The  spot  selected  to  start  from  in  this 
match  was  within  four  miles  of  Maidenhead  Thicket, 
on  the  road  to  Oxford,  and  each  had  his  pony  and  his 
adversary's  friend  as  an  umpire.  Captain  Thornhill 
bent  his  course  towards  Hare-hatch,  on  the  Reading 
road,  and  had  good  "pheasant  sport,"  and  from  thence 
went  on  to  Hurst  Manor,  a  distance  of  about  twenty- 
six  miles.  He  had  thirty-two  shots,  and  bagged 
eleven  pheasants,  fourteen  partridges,  and  five  hares. 
Strong  directed  his  course  towards  Henley  Mills, 
close  to  General  Conway's  Park,  and  from  thence  he 
crossed  the  Thames  to  the  Oxfordshire  hills,  and 
closed  his  day's  labour  there.  He  bagged  nine  hares, 
seventeen  partridges,  and  three  pheasants  in  twenty- 
eight  shots,  and  lost  the  match  by  one  only.  There 
were  some  heavy  even-money  bets  on  the  result. 

Another  shooting  match  took  place  on  September 
1st,  1825,  at  Hatfield,  the  Marquis  of  Salisbury  having 
betted  Sir  John  Sebright  he  would  name  four  gentle- 
men who  should  kill  one  hundred  brace  of  birds  in 
one  day,  only  one  gun  in  use  at  a  time.  Sir  C.  Cuyler, 
the  Hon.  M.  De  Roos,  Mr.  Delme  Ratcliffe,  and 

K  129 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

Samuel  Whitbread,  M.P.,  were  named  as  the  men. 
Sir  C.  Cuyler  took  the  field  at  six  o'clock,  and  on  the 
Marquis'  farm  killed  twenty-four  brace  in  one  hour 
and  a  quarter.  Mr.  Whitbread  followed  in  the 
Home  Park,  and  in  an  hour  and  a  half  killed  eleven 
brace  and  a  half.  Sir  C.  Cuyler  then  shot  on  Pope's 
Manor  for  one  hour  and  twenty  minutes,  and  killed 
twenty-seven  brace  and  a  half.  Mr.  Whitbread  re- 
entered  the  Park,  and  in  one  hour  and  a  half  killed 
fourteen  brace.  Mr.  Ratcliffe  shot  upon  Pope's 
Manor  for  twenty  minutes,  and  killed  eight  brace. 
M.  De  Roos,  in  the  Park,  one  hour,  killing  sixteen 
brace.  Mr.  Delme  Ratcliffe  afterwards  killed  in 
twenty-five  minutes  ten  brace  more,  when  he  was 
informed  the  match  was  already  won,  sufficient  being 
killed.  It  should  be  observed  that  no  parts  of  the 
Park  were  beat  where  the  birds  might  be  supposed 
to  be  tame.  The  Marquis  of  Salisbury,  Colonel 
Robarts,  and  others  witnessed  the  whole  of  the  sport. 

The  account  of  this  sporting  day  concludes  with 
the  remark  that  Sir  John  Sebright  discharged  the  bet 
with  great  promptness  and  good-humour. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century,  after 
Captain  Barclay  had  won  his  bet  of  walking  a  thousand 
miles  in  a  thousand  successive  hours,  eccentric  wagers 
were  all  the  fashion.  Not  the  least  curious  was  the 
one  which  was  proposed  by  an  old  woman,  a  nurse 
in  one  of  the  City  hospitals,  who  offered,  for  the  bet 
of  a  pound  of  Scott's  snuff,  to  keep  awake  with  any 
one  for  a  twelvemonth  to  come,  without  winking  or 
blinking. 

130 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Eighty  or  ninety  years  ago  pigeon-shooting  was  a  very 
popular  amusement,  whilst  not,  as  now,  supposed  to 
be  a  cruel  form  of  sport — if  sport  is  a  permissible 
word  in  connection  with  pigeons  shot  from  traps. 

Perhaps  this  was  because  it  was  not  unusual  for  a 
number  of  the  birds  to  escape  unscathed.  What 
might  be  termed  a  perfectly  humane  pigeon  match 
took  place  on  the  Bowling  Green,  Guildford,  in 
January,  1822. 

On  the  occasion  in  question,  four  local  sportsmen 
of  considerable  repute  as  shots  met  to  shoot  at  two 
birds  each  from  a  trap,  sixteen  yards  distance,  for  a 
good  jollification  for  themselves  and  a  dozen  of 
friends,  to  be  provided  at  the  expense  of  the  two 
who  killed  the  fewest  birds.  Extraordinary  as  it  may 
appear,  every  bird  escaped  untouched  but  the  last, 
which,  by  accident,  was  pinioned,  and  fell  out  of 
bounds.  The  competitors,  apparently  quite  delighted, 
retired  to  the  Bowling  Green  Inn  and  partook  of  an 
excellent  dinner.  After  "  Success  to  the  Trigger  " 
and  a  number  of  other  appropriate  toasts  had  circu- 
lated very  freely,  they  again  sallied  forth  to  wage  war 
with  the  poor  pigeons,  by  way  of  shooting  off  their 
ties,  and  determining  the  match  ;  but  whether  the 
rosy  god  had  played  them  an  ugly  trick,  and  caused 
them  to  see  double,  or  some  wicked  wight  had  bent 
their  gun  barrels,  sure  enough  the  pigeons  again 
escaped,  and  stole  home  to  the  dove-cot  from  whence 
they  were  that  morning  conveyed,  with  no  other  injury 
than  a  single  fright. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  nineteenth  century  the  Old 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Hats  Club  at  Baling  was  a  celebrated  resort  of  pigeon 
shooters.  The  first  verse  of  the  Club  song  reads 
quaintly  to-day : 

Who  has  e'er  been  at  Ealing  must  needs  know  the  Hats, 
There's  a  club  of  good  fellows  without  any  flats, 
With  their  great  guns  and  pigeons  so  blue  ; 
To  kill  Venus's  bird  it  is  all  their  delight, 
And  worship  the  charms  of  her  sisters  at  night ; 
For  medals  and  sweepstakes  they  try  all  their  skill, 
And  when  they  miss  fire  'tis  plain  they  don't  kill, 
With  their  great  guns,  etc. 

Whilst  a  good  many  original  wagers  harmed  no  one, 
some  were  of  a  dangerous  nature. 

One  of  the  most  singular  and  hazardous  of  these 
was  a  bet  laid  by  a  well-known  sporting  resident 
of  Kensington,  in  1811.  This  gentleman  undertook, 
for  a  wager  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  guineas,  to 
drive  his  tandem  at  full  speed  against  the  wheels  of 
the  first  seven  vehicles  he  might  meet  on  the  road, 
so  that  his  wheels  should  absolutely  graze  the  others 
without  becoming  locked,  or  the  tandem  upset, 
in  either  of  which  cases  the  wager  was  to  be  lost. 
Precisely  at  one  he  started  from  the  Greyhound  Inn, 
a  vast  number  of  equestrians  accompanying  him. 
The  first  object  that  presented  itself  was  a  Brentford 
coach,  the  wheels  of  which  the  intrepid  charioteer 
grazed  in  a  neat  style,  much  to  the  surprise  of  the 
coachman,  who,  pulling  aside  as  usual,  and  finding 
himself,  as  it  were,  pursued,  poured  forth  a  volley 
of  abuse  at  what  he  considered  lack  of  coachmanship. 
In  this  manner  three  more  coaches,  one  coal  wagon, 
132 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  two  gigs  were  passed,  and  their  respective  wheels 
touched  without  the  least  accident.  The  whole 
was  accomplished  in  twenty-five  minutes  from  the 
time  of  starting.  Never,  in  the  opinion  of  all  present, 
was  life  or  limb  in  greater  danger  than  in  this  singular 
and  hazardous  attempt.  The  odds,  at  starting,  were 
as  high  as  five  to  two  on  the  tandem  driver. 

Amongst  the  curious  wagers  of  the  past,  that  made 
by  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  (whose  determined  disposi- 
tion caused  her  to  be  called  the  only  man  in  her 
family)  should  not  be  forgotten. 

At  the  time  when  a  public  company  had  first  been 
formed  in  Paris  to  run  the  then  newly  invented 
omnibuses,  the  innovation  did  not  meet  with  satis- 
factory support  from  the  French  public.  The 
Princess,  however,  expressed  her  approval  of  the 
vehicles  in  question,  and  made  a  bet  of  10,000  francs 
with  the  King  that  she  would  ride  in  one — which  she 
did  do.  The  result  was  that  the  omnibuses  became 
popular,  being  for  a  long  time  after  known  as  "  Caro- 
lines "  out  of  compliment  to  the  sporting  Duchess. 

A  highly  whimsical  wager  was  one  made  about 
smoking  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century.  Sir 
Henry  Liddle  had  a  black  servant,  a  regular  glutton 
at  his  pipe ;  and  mentioning  this  propensity  to 
Mr.  Baker,  of  Elemore  Hall,  near  Durham,  a  well- 
known  sporting  character,  expressed  his  conviction 
that  Sambo  could  smoke  a  whole  pound  of  the  weed 
in  the  short  space  of  an  hour.  This  Mr.  Baker  dis- 
puted, and  bet  Sir  Henry  a  hundred  guineas  he  could 
not  perform  it.  In  order  to  create  some  fun  over  the 
133 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

feat,  it  was  appointed  that  Sambo  should  exhibit 
in  the  market-place  at  Durham;  and  there  a  stage 
was  fixed  near  the  Water  Fountain,  with  the  tobacco 
and  a  quantity  of  pipes,  together  with  a  table  and 
seat,  all  in  readiness.  At  the  hour  of  twelve  o'clock 
at  noon,  on  a  market-day,  the  man  of  colour  mounted, 
with  an  attendant  to  fill  his  bowls,  and  by  the  hour 
of  one,  incredible  as  it  may  seem,  "  Othello  "  had 
finished  the  work  of  "  his  occupation,"  to  the  cost  of 
Mr.  Baker.  Sambo  was  allowed  as  much  drink 
as  he  chose  to  partake  of,  and  was  honoured  by  an 
immense  audience,  who  loudly  cheered  him  at  the 
conclusion  of  his  task. 

The  loser  of  the  bet,  Mr.  Baker,  died,  aged  eighty- 
three,  on  May  I5th,  1807.  He  was  a  typical  old- 
fashioned  English  sportsman,  and  was  descended 
from  a  very  ancient  family,  who  for  centuries  have  held 
considerable  estates  in  the  county  of  Durham,  one 
of  his  direct  ancestors  being  Sir  George  Baker,  Knight, 
who  was  one  of  the  loyal  defenders  of  Newcastle- 
upon-Tyne  during  the  Civil  Wars.  As  a  schoolboy  of 
fifteen  he  was  placed  at  a  school  some  sixteen  miles 
distant  from  Epsom,  and  the  tempting  announcement 
of  "  the  Races,"  with  the  celebrated  Eclipse  enrolled 
among  the  engaged,  induced  young  Baker  to  propose 
to  his  fellow-playmates  a  visit  (without  leave)  to  the 
Downs,  which  met  with  a  very  hearty  response  ;  and 
at  early  morn  on  the  day  of  running,  all  took  their 
departure,  and  reached  Epsom  in  good  time.  "  Here," 
Mr.  Baker  said,  "  I  first  saw  Eclipse,  very  like  the 
prints  which  are  published  of  his  portrait ;  but  the 
134 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

figure  of  his  jock  I  was  then  most  amused  at.  There," 
said  he,  "  was  old  John  Oakley  on  his  back  in  a  pair  of 
quarter  boots,  or  rather  shoes  to  the  ankle,  coarse, 
blue  worsted  stockings,  leather  breeches,  and  an 
immense  profusion  of  strings  at  the  knee  !  " 

Mr.  Baker  was  buried  in  his  family  burial  ground  at 
Hall  Garth,  near  his  residence,  the  only  inscription 
on  his  monument  being,  by  his  own  request : 

"THE  LAST  OF  THE  GEORGE  BAKERS, 
OF  ELEMORE  HALL, 

DURHAM." 

His  ancestors  had  borne  the  name  of  George  Baker 
for  some  centuries,  and  he  was  the  last  male  descendant 
of  his  race. 

Sporting  exaggeration  probably  reached  its  highest 
pitch  at  provincial  mess  tables  in  Ireland  on  guest 
nights,  when  the  rage  for  speculation  had  been  gener- 
ated by  the  removal  of  the  cloth.  The  six-feet  walls, 
"coped  and  dashed,"  that  were  to  be  jumped  next 
morning,  "  without  laying  a  toe  to  them "  ;  the 
hecatombs  of  the  feathered  world  to  be  brought  to 
bag  ere  another  sunset ;  the  fish  to  be  hooked  ;  and 
the  punch  to  be  swallowed,  made  the  hair  of  most  new- 
joined  subalterns  fairly  stand  on  end. 

On  one  such  occasion  an  Irish  squire  bound  himself 
either  to  forfeit  fifty  pounds  or  produce  alive  in  the 
messroom  that  day  month  a  fox,  a  badger,  a  hawk,  and 
an  eagle,  all  the  capture  of  his  own  proper  hands. 
Exactly  a  month  later  as  the  day,  to  quote  an  Irish 
expression,  had  just  "  gone  iligant,"  the  town  of 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Newry  was  thrown  into  an  uproar  by  an  extraordinary 
sight.  Preceded  by  a  band,  who  were  most  zealously 
extracting  sounds  from  villainously  discordant  instru- 
ments, and  surrounded  by  a  body-guard  of  bare-headed, 
bare-legged  tatterdemalions,  approached  the  squire, 
bestriding  the  skeleton  of  an  antique  grey  mare.  On 
either  side  of  his  steed  were  suspended  two  large 
wicker  creels,  one  containing  a  wild  mountain  fox, 
the  other  a  fierce-looking  hirsute  badger,  that  grinned 
as  amiably  as  a  Cheshire  cat ;  upon  his  head  was 
perched  a  hawk,  manacled  by  the  legs,  the  chains 
passing  under  the  captor's  chin  and  fastening  around 
his  neck  ;  while  the  triumphant  entry  was  closed  with 
an  eagle  which  he  drew  after  him  as  Achilles  drew 
the  body  of  Hector.  The  triumphant  squire  and  his 
unique  collection  were  given  a  royal  reception,  the 
captives  being  paraded  and  the  fifty  pounds  duly  paid 
over. 

The  eagle,  it  appeared,  had  been  captured  in  an 
eyrie  in  an  almost  inaccessible  cliff  in  the  Mourne 
Mountains,  the  squire  having  been  lowered  by  a  rope 
over  the  face  of  a  precipice. 


136 


TT  is  all  very  well  to  compare  the  present  with  the 
past  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  latter,  but  when 
all  is  said  and  done  there  is  no  doubt  but  that  the 
populace  generally,  though  they  had  fewer  pleasures, 
enjoyed  them  more  thoroughly,  besides  being  entirely 
absorbed  by  their  comparatively  simple  interests. 

In  order  to  enjoy  the  present,  it  is  necessary  to  be 
intent  on  the  present.  To  be  doing  one  thing,  and 
thinking  of  another,  is  a  very  unsatisfactory  mode  of 
spending  life. 

A  great  number  of  people  of  the  present  day  are 
always  wishing  themselves  to  be  somewhere  but 
where  they  are,  or  thinking  of  something  else  but 
what  they  are  doing,  or  of  somebody  else  than  to 
whom  they  are  speaking.  This  is  the  way  to  enjoy 
nothing,  and  to  please  nobody. 

Merry  England  is  no  more,  and  many  of  the  sports 
and  pastimes  that  once  obtained  for  her  this  enviable 
appellation  have  disappeared. 

Where  are  the  May-Day  revels  and  the  simple 
festivities  of  the  harvest  home  ?  Some  vestiges  of  the 
latter,  I  believe,  still  linger  here  and  there  in  remote 
parts  of  the  country,  but  the  old-world  rejoicings  in 
question  are  now  only  kept  up  by  a  few  who  love  the 
traditions  of  bygone  days. 

J37 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

The  morris  dances,  however,  which  but  a  short 
while  back  seemed  likely  to  be  completely  forgotten, 
are  now  in  a  fair  way  to  be  preserved,  owing  to  the 
most  praiseworthy  movement  which,  initiated  at  a 
working  girls'  club  in  the  East  End  of  London,  is 
now  spreading  throughout  the  length  and  breadth  of 
the  land.  The  credit  for  this  is  entirely  due  to  one  lady, 
Miss  Neal,  the  founder  of  the  Esperance  Guild  of 
Morris  Dancers,  to  which  the  author  heartily  wishes 
all  success. 

Would  that  the  quaint  local  customs,  which  not  so 
very  long  ago  flourished  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
had  also  been  carefully  investigated  and  preserved 
for  the  benefit  of  those  yet  to  come,  who,  if  the 
promise  of  civilisation  be  fulfilled,  will  most  certainly 
take  the  greatest  interest  in  everything  connected 
with  the  social  usages  and  customs  of  the  peasantry 
of  a  bygone  and  simple  age. 

In  the  south  of  England  many  curious  customs 
were  formerly  connected  with  the  close  of  the  harvest. 
The  old  Sussex  harvest  home,  as  it  once  existed, 
has  now  ceased  even  to  be  a  memory,  for  as  long  as 
fifty  years  ago  nearly  all  the  quaint  usages  connected 
with  it  had  fallen  into  disuse.  Nevertheless,  at  one 
time  this  festival  was  celebrated  with  much  rustic 
ceremonial,  amongst  which  "  turning  the  cup  over  " 
played  a  great  part. 

The  labourers  of  a  farm  and  the  men  who  had 

assisted  in  harvesting  would  assemble  in  the  kitchen 

of  the  farmer,  where,  at  the  head  of  the  table,  one 

of  them  occupied  the  position  of  chairman.    In  front 

138 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  him  stood  a  pail,  as  clean  as  wooden  staves  and 
iron  hoops  could  be.  On  the  man's  right  sat  four  or 
five  others  who  led  the  singing  with  great  gravity. 
The  appearance,  indeed,  of  the  whole  company  was 
solemn  in  the  extreme,  except  at  moments  when  some 
unlucky  rustic  failed  to  "  turn  the  cup  over,"  and  was 
compelled  to  undergo  the  penalty.  "  Turning  the 
cup  over  "  was  as  follows  :  The  chairman,  standing 
behind  the  pail  with  a  tall  horn  cup  in  his  hand,  filled 
it  with  beer  from  the  pail.  The  man  next  to  him  on 
the  left  stood  up,  and  holding  a  hat  with  both  hands 
by  the  brim,  crown  upwards,  received  the  cup  from 
the  chairman,  on  the  crown  of  the  hat,  not  touching  it 
with  either  hand.  He  then  lifted  the  cup  to  his  lips 
by  raising  the  hat,  and  slowly  drank  off  the  contents. 
As  soon  as  he  began  to  drink,  the  chorus  would  chant — 

I've  bin  to  Plymouth,  and  I've  bin  to  Dover, 
I  have  bin  rambling,  boys,  all  the  wurld  over — 

Over  and  over  and  over  and  over, 
Drink  up  your  liquor  and  turn  your  cup  over, 

Over  and  over  and  over  and  over, 
The  liquor's  drink'd  up  and  the  cup  is  turned  over. 

The  man  drinking  was  expected  to  time  his  draught 
so  as  to  empty  his  cup  at  the  end  of  the  fourth  line 
of  the  chant ;  he  then  had  to  return  the  hat  to  the 
perpendicular,  still  holding  it  by  the  brims,  then  to 
throw  the  cup  into  the  air,  and,  reversing  the  hat, 
to  catch  the  cup  in  it  as  it  fell.  If  he  failed  to  perform 
this  part  of  the  operation,  the  fellow-workmen,  who 
were  closely  watching  him,  made  an  important 
139 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

alteration  in  the  last  line  of  their  chant,  which  in 
that  case  ran  thus  : 

The  liquor's  drink'd  up  and  the  cup  ain't  turned  over. 

When  this  occurred,  the  cup  was  refilled,  and  the 
unfortunate  drinker  compelled  to  go  through  the 
same  ceremony  again.  Every  one  at  the  table  took  the 
cup  and  "  turned  it  over  "  in  succession,  the  chief 
shepherd  keeping  the  pail  constantly  supplied  with 
beer.  Visitors  who  came  to  see  this  ceremony  gener- 
ally took  part  in  it,  without,  however,  being  subjected 
to  the  full  penalty  in  case  of  failure. 

Many  old  customs  prevailed  throughout  rural 
England.  According  to  West  Country  fashion,  on 
Twelfth  Night  (old  style)  a  band  of  rustics  would  join 
hands  round  an  old  apple  tree  and  sing  : 

Here's  to  thee, 

Quid  apple  tree, 

For  to  bear  and  to  brew 

Apples  anew 

These  year,  next  year,  and  the  year  arter  teu ; 

Hats  vull,  caps  vull,  and  bushell  bag  vull ; 

But  if  thee  want  bear  neither  apple  or  core 

Down  wi'  thy  tap,  and  up  wi'  thy  mor. 

After   which    there    would    be    much   cheering  and 
firing  of  guns,  and  a  feast  in  the  evening. 

Some  queer  customs  which  once  prevailed  would 
now  be  considered  at  best  highly  indecorous.  Such  a 
one  was  the  struggle  for  the  bride's  garters,  which  at 
one  time  went  on  in  the  church  itself,  all  the  young 
men  present  striving  to  obtain  the  coveted  trophies. 
140 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  It^ays 

The  bride  was  generally  gartered  with  ribbons  for 
the  occasion.  Whoever  were  so  fortunate  as  to  be 
victors  in  this  singular  species  of  contest,  during 
which  the  bride  was  often  obliged  to  scream  out, 
and  was  frequently  thrown  down,  bore  them  about 
the  church  in  triumph  !  This  custom  was  similar  to 
one  which  prevailed  in  Normandy,  where  the  bride 
would  bestow  her  garter  on  some  young  man  as  a 
favour  ;  in  some  cases  it  was  taken  from  her. 

A  number  of  quaint  usages  of  old  England  were 
originally  brought  from  across  the  Channel,  having 
originated  in  that  Normandy  which  irresistibly  re- 
minds the  Englishman  of  the  ancestors  of  such  a 
number  of  his  race.  The  country  there  is  yet  more 
like  England  than  is  any  other  part  of  the  Continent. 
The  architecture  of  the  village  churches,  the  green- 
sward, the  cut  of  the  woods  and  old  pollards,  the 
gates,  the  stiles,  the  footpaths,  hedgerows,  and 
orchards,  the  shape  and  size  of  the  fields,  the  cottages 
with  their  thatched  roofs,  the  arrangement  of  the 
farm  homesteads,  and  the  well-tended  gardens  of 
the  country  mansions,  all  remind  one  of  England, 
whilst  the  names  of  towns,  villages,  and  hamlets 
read  like  a  leaf  out  of  Domesday  Book.  In  Normandy, 
with  some  slight  differences  of  spelling,  brought  about 
by  eight  centuries  of  time,  is  to  be  found  the  origin  of 
countless  English  families. 

A  salient  feature  of  old  English  country  life  was 
the  good  feeling  which  prevailed  between  the  upper 
and  lower  classes  of  society,  who  as  children  met  more 
frequently  than  they  do  to-day. 
141 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

A  young  nobleman,  having  been  sent  to  a  local 
school  near  his  home  in  the  country,  was  invited  by 
the  mother  of  one  of  his  schoolfellows,  who  happened 
to  be  the  butcher's  son,  to  a  feast,  one  of  the  principal 
attractions  of  which  was  a  large  apple-pie.  The  young 
peer  was  very  civilly  treated,  and  went  away  highly 
pleased.  Some  time  after  the  peer  went  to  college, 
and  the  butcher  to  his  father's  shop,  and  they  never  met 
for  years  ;  but  it  chanced  one  day  that  as  the  butcher 
was  driving  his  market-cart  he  met  the  peer  in  his 
curricle,  who  instantly  recognised  his  old  friend, 
pulled  up,  and  shook  him  very  cordially  by  the  hand, 
to  the  great  surprise  of  the  spectators,  and  enquired 
why  he  did  not  come  to  see  him.  "  Why,  my  lord," 
replied  the  butcher,  "  about  the  same  time  you  went 
to  the  House  of  Lords  I  went  to  the  slaughter-house  ; 
I  thought  your  lordship  might  not  be  very  proud  of 
the  acquaintance."  "  You  have  been  mistaken  in 
that,"  replied  his  lordship,  "  and  I  hope  you  will  take 
an  early  opportunity  of  dining  with  me ;  for  the 
happiest  day  of  my  life  I  owe  to  you,  and  to  your 
mother's  great  apple-pie." 

The  ingenuous  spirit  of  that  age,  which  banded  all 
classes  together,  is  shown  in  a  thousand  instances. 
One  of  the  most  characteristic,  perhaps,  is  the  incident 
of  Fox  at  Holkham.  He  had  then  grown  very  fat, 
which  caused  people  to  laugh  at  him,  as  they  said, 
for  weighing  so  much.  The  host,  indeed,  declared 
that  he  wondered  which  weighed  the  most — Fox 
or  his  fat  cook.  "  Let's  go  and  see,"  was  the  general 
cry ;  and  the  party,  surrounding  Fox,  hustled  him  off 
142 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  the  kitchen,  where,  amidst  general  merriment, 
Charles  James  Fox  and  the  portly  cook  were  weighed 
one  against  the  other. 

The  position  of  a  peer  with  great  landed  possessions 
in  old  days  was  totally  different  from  that  of  most  of 
the  peers  of  to-day.  As  a  rule  he  was  a  local  magnate 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  and  looked  upon  as  one 
of  the  institutions  of  the  county.  To-day  all  is 
changed,  and  a  great  number  of  peers  having  (not 
unwisely,  perhaps)  parted  with  the  homes  and  acres 
of  their  ancestors,  the  House  of  Lords  can  hardly  be 
said  to  be  as  representative  of  the  landed  interest  as  of 
yore.  And  what  of  the  new  peers  who,  within  the  last 
sixty  years,  have  been  created  with  such  unfailing 
regularity — what  do  they  represent  ?  The  majority, 
alas,  nothing  but  money.  They  are  indeed  the 
products  of  the  infamous  and  out-of-date  party 
system  which  demands  that  peerages  shall  be  bestowed 
upon  a  certain  number  of  rich  men  every  year  in 
order  that  the  party  war  chest  may  be  replenished  ! 

The  class  of  individual  on  whom  these  peerages 
have  during  the  last  few  years  been  bestowed  has  some- 
times been  anything  but  high,  and  not  a  few  of  these 
ennobled  money-bags  indulge  in  small  meannesses  of  an 
incredible  kind.  "  Personally,"  said  one  of  these  noble- 
men, "  I  consider  mineral  waters  much  too  dear, 
especially  the  still  ones.  Indeed,  I  take  care  to  make 
my  own  supply  of  them — my  butler  has  some  old 
bottles  which  he  keeps  filling  up  with  ordinary  water 
when  any  of  my  guests  ask  for  them  !  "  The  peer  in 
question,  it  should  be  added,  is  a  public-spirited  and 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

generous  man  in  many  ways ;  nevertheless  the  above 
incident  shows  his  lack  of  mental  dignity. 

Another  peer  of  recent  creation  known  to  the  public 
by  occasional  princely  munificence,  and  to  his  acquaint- 
ances by  an  unvarying  course  of  petty  economies, 
openly  glories  in  his  undignified  tricks. 

At  one  time  this  nobleman  took  to  collecting  cigar 
bands  from  his  friends,  who  were  very  much  puzzled 
what  he  might  propose  to  do  with  these  small  strips 
of  coloured  paper.  At  last  one  day  he  told  his  secret 
to  a  casual  acquaintance  who  had  been  drawing  him 
out  as  to  his  wonderful  aptitude  for  small  economies. 

"  Most  people,"  said  the  band  collector,  "  know 
nothing  whatever  about  cigars,  but  have  a  great 
respect  for  certain  brands.  My  plan,  therefore,  is  to 
buy  very  ordinary  and  inexpensive  cigars  for  my  guests, 
and  these  cigars  I  convert  into  all  sorts  of  high-priced 
brands  by  the  addition  of  the  little  bands  which  I  am 
always  collecting ;  in  this  way  I  afford  my  friends 
great  enjoyment  at  small  cost  to  myself." 

Such  men  as  these  are,  of  course,  utterly  out  of 
touch  with  their  dependents  in  humble  life — a  class 
who  in  other  days  cherished  a  real  respect  for  the 
great  local  landlords,  the  squires,  and  the  parsons, 
the  modern  representatives  of  which  class  have 
undoubtedly  driven  many  of  their  rustic  parishioners 
into  the  Nonconformist  camp  owing  to  their  not 
infrequent  lack  of  tact. 

They  should  have  taken  to  heart  the  lesson  taught 
by  Whitefield,  the  famous  field  preacher,  in  the  early 
part  of  his  career.  He  was  addressing  a  number  of 

144 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

people,  when  a  drummer,  who  happened  to  be  present, 
made  a  point  of  interrupting  by  loud  rub-a-dub-dubs. 
Whitefield  spoke  very  loud,  but  was  not  so  powerful 
as  the  martial  instrument ;  the  field  preacher  therefore 
called  out  to  the  drummer,  "  Friend,  you  and  I  serve 
the  two  greatest  masters  existing,  but  in  different 
callings.  You  may  beat  up  for  volunteers  for  King 
George,  I  for  the  Lord.  In  God's  name,  then,  don't 
let  us  interrupt  each  other  ;  the  world  is  wide  enough 
for  us  both,  and  we  may  get  recruits  in  abundance." 
This  speech  had  such  an  effect  that  Methodism 
became  triumphant ;  the  drummer  and  party  went 
away  in  great  good-humour,  and  left  the  preacher  in 
full  possession  of  the  field. 

The  ideal  country  parson  of  old  days  was  one  who 
mingled  with  the  villagers  and  was  their  friend ;  such 
a  man  possessed  considerable  influence.  Charles  II 
told  his  council  "  he  had  a  chaplain  that  was  a  very 
honest  man,  but  a  great  blockhead,  to  whom  he 
had  given  a  living  in  Suffolk,  that  was  full  of  that 
sort  of  people.  He  had  gone  about  among  them  from 
house  to  house,  though  he  could  not  imagine  what 
he  could  have  to  say  to  them,  for  he  was  a  very  silly 
fellow ;  but  he  believed  his  nonsense  suited  their 
nonsense,  for  he  had  brought  them  all  to  the  church, 
and  in  reward  of  his  diligence  he  had  given  him  a 
bishopric." 

The   change   between   the  country  gentleman   of 

to-day  and  one  of  the  past  is  very  great.     The  one, 

eighty  or  ninety  years   ago,  rode  over  his  grounds 

in  the  mornings,  conversed  familiarly  with  his  tenants, 

L  145 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  was  looked  up  to  by  them  as  a  friendly  superior, 
one  who  would  afford  them  consolation  and  advice 
in  the  hour  of  difficulty  and  distress ;  he  resided 
among  them,  and,  with  his  wife  and  family,  was  an 
example  of  nuptial  harmony,  correct  conduct,  and 
well-regulated  benevolence. 

Those  were  the  days  when  men  of  moderate  fortune 
were  content  to  pass  all  their  lives  in  the  country, 
the  sole  pleasures  of  most  of  them  being  hunting, 
shooting,  and  fishing.  Leading  a  simple  and  healthy 
life,  many  a  squire  was  as  happy  as  the  day  was 

long- 
Hope  and  strength  went  forth  with  him  in  the 
morning,  whilst  hunger  said  a  short  grace  before  his 
welcome  shoulder  of  mutton  or  potato  pie,  which  were 
despatched  with  far  greater  relish  than  the  luxurious 
dishes  of  a  pampered  gourmet. 

On  his  lawns  the  sturdy  oak  displayed  its  stately 
limbs,  and  the  croaking  music  of  the  rooks  which 
circled  around  was  sweeter  to  his  ears  than  all  the 
melodies  of  the  Opera.  The  Emperor  of  Russia  once 
said  that  he  considered  an  English  country  gentleman 
the  most  happy  being  in  the  world.  So  he  was — with 
his  horses,  dogs,  and  game  for  his  amusement ; 
adjusting  disputes  amongst  his  neighbours ;  interchang- 
ing civilities  with  the  clergyman  of  his  parish  ;  recog- 
nising with  a  smile  his  tenants,  who  did  not  fail  to 
doff  their  hats  when  they  met  him.  It  was  a  great 
day  when  the  squire's  eldest  son  attained  the  import- 
ant age  of  twenty-one ;  bonfires  illumined  his  park, 
"  glasses  sparkled  on  the  board,"  and  the  cheerful 
146 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

huzza  resounded  in  the  hall,  denoting  the  interest  the 
neighbourhood  felt  in  the  family. 

No  doubt  most  of  the  squires  were  not  very  refined 
in  their  ways,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  the 
habits  and  language  of  the  sportsmen  of  the  past  must 
not  be  measured  by  the  ideas  of  to-day.  Even  in  the 
best  and  most  refined  society  at  that  period  much 
passed  current  which  would  now  be  considered  in- 
sufferably gross. 

The  country  gentlemen  of  old  England  were,  in 
spite  of  several  failings,  a  manly  race  hardened  by 
rustic  sports  and  exposure  to  all  weathers ;  lovers  of 
mountain,  moor,  and  forest,  the  majority,  unlike 
townsmen,  loved  to  hear  the  lark  sing  rather  than  the 
mouse  squeak. 

A  stage  lower  in  the  social  scale,  the  farmer's  life, 
in  general,  from  the  least  to  the  highest,  was  a  healthy 
and  a  hardy  one  ;  they  had  exercise  in  plenty,  without 
being  bowed  down  by  ceaseless  toil,  enjoyed  their 
work,  and  being  almost  constantly  in  the  open  air 
were  exempt  from  many  of  the  ailments  of  townsmen. 

The  old  farmers  were,  as  a  rule,  anything  but 
progressive  in  their  ideas,  and  when  patent  foods  for 
cattle  were  first  introduced  many  of  them  denounced 
the  innovation.  One  farmer,  at  a  cattle  show,  bluntly 
took  his  landlord  to  task  for  indulging  in  modern  fads. 
"  Why  dunna  yea  show  'em,"  he  exclaimed,  "  fedden 
in  a  nateral  way,  and  bring  your  cattle  as  they  should 
be  seen  on  your  pasters.  It's  all  my  eye  and  Betty 
Martin,  geeing  'em  your  nice  kickshaws,  and  sugar, 
and  milk !  Squire,  you're  throwing  hundreds  of 
M7 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

pounds  away  in  pampering  your  beasts  up  like  alder- 
men, and  Christians,  and  corporations,  with  your  oily 
cakes,  dainties,  and  tit-bits !  I  tell  you  all,  gentlemen, 
for  it  comes  to  nothing.  We  wanten  good  sound 
mate ;  and  none  of  your  greasy  and  sugary  flim- 
flams." 

The  agricultural  labourer,  however,  was  badly 
housed  and  miserably  poor ;  indeed,  the  condition 
of  the  English  peasantry  before  the  passing  of  the 
Reform  Bill,  in  1832,  was  very  far  from  good. 

It  was  all  very  well  for  those  who  rattled  through 
the  country  on  the  top  of  a  stage  coach  to  talk  of  the 
rose-covered  cottages  and  blooming  faces  they  met, 
and  declare  how  happy  the  poor  of  England  must  be. 
There  were  two  sides  to  the  picture,  and  they  saw  the 
bright  one.  Had  they  looked  into  those  cottages, 
which  with  their  roses  and  woodbine  had  such  a 
picturesque  effect,  and  seen  the  want,  the  misery,  and 
too  often  vice  to  be  found  within,  they  would  have 
had  good  reason  for  some  not  very  consoling  reflec- 
tions. Indeed,  most  of  us  would  have  been  appalled 
by  the  squalid  faces,  mud  floors,  rags,  and  disease. 
Manifestations  of  wretchedness  were  all  too  plain — 
children  crying  for  the  bread  their  poverty-stricken 
parents  could  not  give,  and  parents  upbraiding  each 
other  for  the  misery  they  could  not  alleviate. 

The  poverty  of  the  lower  classes  was  generally 
regarded  as  being  inevitable,  and  any  complaint 
deemed  almost  wicked. 

A  poor  man,  complaining  to  his  landlord  of  the 
largeness  of  his  family,  lamenting  that  it  generally 
148 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

happened  that  poor  people  had  the  most  children 
to  keep,  was  answered  that  God  never  sent  more 
mouths  into  the  world  than  food  to  supply  them. 
"  Very  true,"  was  the  reply,  "  but  the  food  is  at 
your  house  and  the  children  at  mine." 

Though  little  effort  was  made  to  improve  the 
conditions  of  rustic  life,  a  considerable  amount  of 
rather  false  sentiment  was  attached  to  existence  in 
the  country. 

A  young  lady,  who  had  never  been  out  of  the  sound 
of  Bow  bells,  and  whose  ideas  of  a  country  life  were 
formed  from  reading  Thomson's  Seasons,  and  senti- 
mental literature  of  the  artificial  kind  popular  at  that 
time,  received  an  invitation  to  spend  a  few  weeks 
with  her  aunt,  about  fifty  miles  from  London,  and 
was  extremely  disappointed  at  the  total  absence  of 
that  moral  elegance,  that  Arcadian  simplicity,  which 
she  had  pictured  to  herself  as  being  part  of  rural  life. 
One  day,  however,  she  considered  herself  fortunate 
in  encountering  a  shepherd  returning  from  the 
fields,  with  crook  in  hand,  quite  oi  la  Croydon. 
"  Youth,"  said  the  fair  votary  of  romance,  "  why 
have  you  not  your  pipe  with  you  ?  "  "  Bekase, 
ma'am,"  answered  he,  "  I  han't  got  no  backee." 

Countrymen,  in  truth,  were  not  much  given  to 
romance,  though  occasionally  the  simple  sentiment  of 
other  days  was  expressed  in  very  quaint  terms.  When, 
for  instance,  a  charming  lady  had  presented  a  set  of 
regimental  colours  to  a  volunteer  corps  in  Lancashire, 
the  ensign,  a  gallant  young  Lancashire  lad,  received 
the  boon  with  ardent  devotion,  and  replied  :  "  Madam, 
149 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

I  receive  these  colours  with  sincere  gratitude,  and 
will  defend  them  with  fortitude  ;  and,  when  au'  th' 
silk's  shot  away,  I'll  bring  you  the  pow  (pole)  whoam 
again." 

The  quaint  outlook  upon  life,  and  even  upon  death, 
which  prevailed  in  the  countryside  at  times  led  to 
great  outspokenness,  which  sometimes  found  a  place 
in  monuments  to  the  dead.  A  remarkable  epitaph 
on  a  tomb  in  Horselydown  Church,  in  Cumberland, 
ran  as  follows :  "  Here  lie  the  bodies  of  Thomas 
Bond  and  Mary,  his  wife.  She  was  temperate,  chaste, 
and  charitable ;  but  she  was  proud,  peevish,  and 
passionate.  She  was  an  affectionate  wife  and  tender 
mother,  but  her  husband  and  child,  whom  she  loved, 
seldom  saw  her  countenance  without  a  disgusting 
frown,  while  she  received  visitors  whom  she  despised 
with  an  enduring  smile.  Her  behaviour  was  discreet 
towards  strangers,  but  imprudent  in  her  family. 
Abroad,  her  conduct  was  influenced  by  good  breeding, 
but  at  home  by  ill-temper."  And  so  the  epitaph 
runs  on  to  a  considerable  length,  acknowledging  the 
good  qualities  of  the  poor  woman,  but  killing  each  by 
setting  against  it  some  peculiarly  unamiable  trait. 

There  was  a  good  deal  of  rough  humour  about  the 
rustic  of  the  past  which  sometimes  manifested  itself 
at  most  inopportune  times. 

A  well-to-do  north  countryman,  having  just  been 
married,  went  up  to  the  rector  after  the  ceremony 
and  said,  "  Sur,  what  mun  I  pey  ?  "  The  rector  said, 
"  Seven  shillings."  "  Sur,"  said  John,  "  it's  a  grate  deal 
of  money,  will  na  ye  gi'  me  something  back  for  luck  ?  " 
150 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

The  rector,  out  of  patience,  walked  off.  John,  turning 
then  to  his  bride,  bid  her  prepare  to  go.  The  bride, 
however,  looking  her  sweet  spouse  steadily  in  the 
face,  said,  "  Dear  John,  you've  highly  insulted  the 
parson  to-day.  I'm  ashamed  of  you."  "  Jane,"  said  he, 
"  hawd  your  noise  ;  I  don't  like  to  drop  old  customs — 
I  never  bought  a  pig  in  my  life  but  I  got  something 
back  for  luck." 

In  the  Court  of  Quarter  Sessions  a  petty  case  was 
being  tried.  A  well-known  criminal  lawyer,  who 
prided  himself  upon  his  skill  in  cross-examining  a 
witness,  had  an  odd-looking  rustic  upon  whom  to 
operate.  The  witness  was  a  shoemaker. 

"  You  say,  sir,  that  the  prisoner  is  a  thief  ?  " 

"  Yes,  sir  ;   cause  why,  she  confessed  it." 

"  And  you  also  swear  she  bound  shoes  for  you  sub- 
sequent to  the  confession  ?  " 

"  I  do,  sir." 

"  Then  " — giving  a  sagacious  look  to  the  court — "  we 
are  to  understand  that  you  employ  dishonest  people  to 
work  for  you,  even  after  their  rascalities  are  known  ?  " 

"  Of  course  ;  how  else  could  I  get  assistance  from  a 
lawyer  ?  " 

Another  hectoring  counsel,  brow-beating  a  witness 
about  the  profession  of  another  person,  concluded  by 
saying,  "  You  are  sure,  then,  that  your  friend  does  not 
impose  upon  the  world  by  pretending  to  keep  a  public- 
house  ?  "  "  No,"  replied  the  witness,  "  he  has  got  a 
better  way  than  that  of  cheating  them."  "  What's 
that  ?  "  "  Oh  !  "  replied  the  fellow,  "  he  follows  the 
law." 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

On  the  other  hand,  there  were  villagers  whose 
simplicity  was  extraordinarily  quaint. 

"  Doctor,"  said  an  old  woman  one  day  to  the 
doctor,  who  had  come  to  see  her,  "  kin  you  tell  me 
how  it  is  that  some  folks  is  born  dumb  ?  "  "  Why, 
hem  !  why,  certainly,  madam,"  replied  the  doctor, 
"  it  is  owing  to  the  fact  that  they  come  into  the  world 
without  the  power  of  speech."  "  La  me  !  "  remarked 
the  old  lady,  "  now  jest  see  what  it  is  to  have  a  physical 
edication.  I've  axed  my  old  man  more  nor  a  hundred 
times  that  'are  same  thing,  and  all  I  could  ever  git 
out  on  him  was,  '  Kase  they  is.5  Well,  I'm  glad  I 
axed  you,  for  I  never  should  a  died  satisfied  without 
knowin'  it." 

The  penniless  condition  of  the  agricultural  labourers 
of  the  past  largely  contributed  to  fill  the  ranks  of  the 
army. 

The  crimps  might  boast  of  their  extraordinary  talent 
in  obtaining  men  to  serve  the  King,  but,  after  all,  the 
most  successful  recruiting  sergeant  was — Necessity. 
Hunger,  indeed,  turned  drummer,  and  beat  a  tattoo 
upon  so  many  empty  stomachs  that  many  a  man  be- 
came a  hero  in  spite  of  himself,  his  only  alternative 
being — Death  or  Glory. 

Nevertheless,  not  a  few  individuals  made  their 
way  to  affluence  from  the  very  humblest  beginnings. 
Such  a  one  was  Mr.  Brunskill,  who  died  in  the  fifties  of 
the  last  century.  Born  without  a  shilling,  he  died 
leaving  a  fortune  of  £200,000  to  three  children, 
boys  of  tender  age.  For  the  first  seven  years  of  his 
life  as  a  tradesman  he  worked  seventeen  hours  a  day. 
152 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

He  boasted  "  that  he  was  the  only  man  in  Exeter  who 
could  ride  forty  miles  a  day  and  *  cut  out '  for  forty 
men."  In  addition  to  his  tailoring  business,  which 
returned  above  £25,000  a  year,  in  later  years  he 
became  a  money-broker,  and  made  speculative  ventures 
occasionally  with  young  men  of  expectations,  by 
which  he  often  realised  large  sums. 

Whereas  the  majority  of  people  in  former  times 
seem  to  have  been  more  short-lived  than  is  at  present 
the  case,  a  certain  number  lived  to  very  great  ages  in 
full  possession  of  their  faculties.  Though  fresh  air, 
temperance,  and  exercise  would  seem  to  be  the 
great  preservatives  of  health,  there  appears  to  be  no 
fixed  rule  for  attaining  long  life.  Whilst  some 
octogenarians  attributed  their  span  of  years  to  a 
careful  regime,  others  boasted  of  their  contempt  for 
rules. 

In  a  trial  before  Lord  Mansfield  a  witness  called 
John  Elm,  who  gave  evidence  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
six,  attracted  attention  by  his  freedom  from  in- 
firmities of  any  kind.  Upon  a  question  from  the 
court,  he  said  "  his  life  had  been  a  scene  of  tranquil 
regularity ;  he  lived  chiefly  upon  milk  diet,  drank 
no  tea  or  spirituous  liquors,  always  went  to  bed  early, 
and  rose  with  the  sun."  His  lordship,  addressing 
himself  to  the  junior  barristers,  said,  "  There,  gentle- 
men, is  an  example  of  health  and  long  life  for  you  ; 
it  is  an  admirable  lesson,  and  I  hope  you  will  follow 
it."  The  very  next  witness  called  in  the  cause  proved 
to  be  James  Elm,  the  brother  of  (and  a  much  more 
healthy  and  venerable-looking  man  than)  the  former. 
153 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

After  having  given  his  evidence,  his  lordship,  with  a 
handsome  apology,  requested  to  know  "  if  he  was 
brother  to  the  preceding  witness."  Upon  answering 
in  the  affirmative,  his  lordship  was  induced  to  ask  his 
age.  "  Ninety,  my  lord."  "  Indeed  !  that's  a  great 
age,  Mr.  Elm.  You  have  kept  your  health  well,  I 
presume  ?  "  "  Never  was  ill  a  day,  or  took  a  dose  of 
physic  in  my  life,  my  lord."  "  Astonishing  !  But 
you  live  regularly  mostly  upon  milk  diet,  and  go  to  bed 
early,  I  suppose  ?  "  "  Never  live  by  any  rule,  my 
lord ;  eat  and  drink  whatever  comes  in  my  way, 
except  milk,  which  I  cannot  bear."  "  In  short,  then, 
although  you  indulge  your  appetite  in  this  way,  I 
conclude  you  never  drink  to  excess  ?  "  "  Why,  to 
tell  your  lordship  the  truth,  I  do  not  very  well  com- 
prehend the  meaning  of  drinking  to  excess,  but  I 
have  not  been  to  bed  sober  any  one  night  this  forty 
years."  Upon  which  one  of  the  young  barristers, 
jumping  up,  exultingly  asked  his  lordship  "  what  he 
had  to  say  to  that."  "  Say  ?  "  replied  his  lordship. 
"  Why,  that  Elm,  wet  or  dry,  will  last  for  ever." 

Here  and  there  in  country  districts  linger  individuals 
who  give  a  fair  idea  of  what  the  old  English  of  a 
hundred  years  ago  were  like — fine,  sturdy,  happy 
men,  thoroughly  content  with  their  lot.  With  such 
a  one  the  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  talking  a  short 
while  ago.  A  fisherman  himself,  and  the  son,  grandson, 
and  great-grandson  of  fishermen,  he  lives  in  the  old 
thatched  cottage  built  over  a  hundred  years  back  by 
forbears  who  had  helped  to  run  many  a  surreptitious 
cargo  across  the  Channel  from  France. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

A  decade  or  so  ago,  whilst  scaling  a  height  to 
hoist  the  Union  Jack  on  the  occasion  of  some  public 
rejoicings,  this  man  had  fallen  and  sustained  terrible 
injuries  to  his  back,  which  for  a  time  had  caused 
partial  paralysis,  the  traces  of  which  still  remained — 
yet  a  happier  or  more  contented  creature  never  lived. 
Sitting  engaged  with  his  tackle,  his  countenance  fairly 
radiated  happiness  as  he  spoke  to  the  writer  of  the 
old  smuggling  days  and  of  his  ancestors,  whose  lives 
had  been  so  thoroughly  identified  with  the  little 
fishing  village,  now  to  his  regret  developing  into  a 
so-called  pleasure  resort.  Without  doubt,  in  spite  of 
his  terrible  accident,  this  man's  life  is  far  happier 
than  that  of  any  Park  Lane  millionaire,  whose  ex- 
istence is  often  merely  a  sordid  struggle  for  wealth. 


A  great  English  institution  of  old  days  was  the  Fair, 
which,  originally  a  well-recognised  medium  for  com- 
mercial exchange,  gradually  changed  into  an  occasion 
for  much  unlicensed  revelry  and  amusement,  and  then 
sank  into  the  somewhat  squalid  if  staid  affair  which 
in  certain  places  still  exists  to-day. 

In  bygone  days,  when  travelling  was  difficult,  fairs 
were  absolutely  necessary  to  enable  persons  living  at 
a  distance  from  large  towns  to  purchase  their  com- 
modities ;  but  the  case  is  now  far  different,  and  the 
facilities  with  which  persons  can  travel  from  one 
place  to  another  render  fairs  entirely  unnecessary. 
In  former  days  the  way  in  which  fairs  were  conducted 
was  very  different  from  the  present.  Then  there  was 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  harmless  merrymaking,  and,  at  the  close  of  the 
day,  the  little  dance  on  the  green,  everything  being 
conducted  and  regulated  with  propriety  and  decorum. 
With  the  dawn  of  more  sophisticated  times  every- 
thing in  connection  with  fairs  was  entirely  altered, 
and  they  tended  to  become  scenes  of  every  kind  of 
vice  and  debauchery.  Organised  bands  of  pick- 
pockets and  gamblers  now  made  their  appearance, 
for  the  sole  purpose  of  preying  on  the  simple  and 
unwary,  who  flocked  in  from  every  side. 

The  modern  fair  is  merely  an  assemblage  of  round- 
abouts, swings,  and  the  like  ;  there  is  little  life  or 
amusement  in  it,  and  the  unrestrained  gaiety  which 
was  such  a  feature  of  fairs  in  old  days  is  entirely  absent. 
As  a  matter  of  fact,  a  very  large  number  of  the 
inhabitants  of  places  where  fairs  are  still  held  would 
heartily  welcome  their  abolition  on  account  of  the 
undesirable  characters  which  such  gatherings  naturally 
attract. 

Barnet  Fair — up  to  quite  a  short  time  ago,  and  to 
some  extent  even  to-day,  a  real  horse  fair — still  exists. 
Mitcham  Fair  yet  maintains  a  precarious  annual  exist- 
ence, in  spite  of  having  long  been  threatened,  and, 
I  believe,  officially  prohibited.  The  old  London  fairs, 
however,  have  now  long  disappeared. 

It  is  now  almost  impossible  to  realise  the  licence 
permitted  to  the  people  of  London  at  the  time  when 
such  public  carnivals  were  tolerated.  For  years  before 
its  abolition  Bartholomew  Fair  was  bitterly  denounced 
on  the  plea  that  it  encouraged  loose  characters  and 
pickpockets.  In  defence,  however,  it  was  with  some 
156 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  ff^ays 

justice  urged  that  it  lasted  but  three  days,  and  as  the 
objectionable  persons  in  question  had  the  usual  public 
amusements  open  to  them  all  the  year  round,  such  an 
argument  could  not  be  seriously  considered. 

The  opening  was  attended  with  considerable  cere- 
mony. In  1811,  for  instance,  the  Lord  Mayor  left 
the  Mansion  House  before  noon  on  August  3rd,  and 
proceeded  in  his  state  coach,  attended  by  the  Sheriffs 
and  City  Marshals,  to  the  Old  Bailey,  where,  conform- 
able to  ancient  custom,  he  stopped  at  the  door  of  New- 
gate to  partake  of  a  cool  tankard  presented  to  him  by 
Mr.  Newman,  the  keeper.  He  then  proceeded  along 
Giltspur  Street  to  proclaim  the  fair.  The  moment  the 
civic  procession  was  discovered  approaching,  all  the 
instruments  of  music,  from  the  gong  to  the  octave 
flute,  sounded  a  salute  sufficient  to  have  drowned  the 
noise  of  Bonaparte's  cannon  at  the  battle  of  Marengo. 
After  the  proclamation  had  been  made  at  the  great 
gate  leading  to  Clothfair,  the  Lord  Mayor  returned 
with  the  same  state. 

The  fair  itself  presented  an  extraordinary  appear- 
ance ;  Richardson,  Scowton,  Gingell,  and  others 
reared  their  portable  theatres  with  most  elaborate 
decorations.  All  the  emperors,  heroes,  harlequins, 
columbines,  Punch,  and  even  the  Devil  himself, 
appeared  in  splendid  attire.  Fire-eaters,  conjurers, 
and  rope-dancers  performed  their  feats  in  public, 
to  attract  the  spectators  to  their  exhibitions ;  and 
while  the  gaping  multitude  lifted  up  their  eyes  to  gaze 
on  the  wonders,  pickpockets  were  busy  in  removing, 
by  legerdemain,  watches,  handkerchiefs,  and  pocket- 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

books.  The  chief  delicacy  provided  was  an  abundance 
of  sausages,  but  there  was  something  for  every  taste. 
The  numerous  stalls  for  the  sale  of  gingerbread 
contained,  among  other  dainties,  Burdett's  Scotch 
kisses,  Perceval's  game  nuts,  Lord  Wellington's  alia 
campaign,  Albuera  sweetmeats,  Sadler's  balloon  puffs, 
ministerial  lollypops,  and  a  variety  of  sweets  bearing 
the  names  of  various  public  characters. 

The  Lord  Mayor's  comitatus  were  stationed  over 
the  fair  to  preserve  order,  and  the  Court  of  Pie 
Poudre,  established  in  Clothfair,  was  held  for  the 
trial  of  all  petty  differences  and  offences  committed 
contrary  to  the  regulations  laid  down  in  the  proclama- 
tion read  at  the  opening  ceremony. 

At  one  period  of  the  eighteenth  century  a  sort  of 
perpetual  fair  was  carried  on  in  St.  George's  Fields, 
where  the  lower  classes  met  to  smoke  tobacco,  but 
this  was  not  their  only  amusement.  Mr.  Shanks, 
near  Lambeth  Marsh,  occasionally  amused  his  custo- 
mers with  a  grinning  match.  The  prize  was  a  gold- 
laced  hat,  and  the  competitors  were  exhilarated  by 
music  and  dancing.  The  hour  of  exhibition,  twelve 
at  noon,  the  admission  sixpence,  and  in  the  evening 
another  portion  of  the  same  class  were  entertained 
with  contortions  of  another  and  different  description, 
the  performances  of  a  posture-master,  as  described  in 
the  following  advertisement :  "  At  Mr.  Shanks' 
great  room,  near  Lambeth  Marsh,  is  to  be  seen  the 
famous  Posture-master  of  Europe,  who  far  exceeds  the 
deceased  Posture-masters,  Clarke  and  Higgings ;  he 
extends  his  body  into  all  deformed  shapes,  makes  his 
158 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

hip  and  shoulder  bones  meet  together,  lays  his  head 
upon  the  ground,  and  turns  his  body  round  twice  or 
thrice  without  stirring  his  face." 

Old  London  rang  with  the  cries  of  itinerant  vendors 
delivered  in  a  peculiar  sing-song  voice,  only  a  trifle 
less  disturbing  than  the  very  unmelodious  tones  of  the 
itinerant  street-singers  who  up  to  about  seventy  or 
eighty  years  ago  abounded  in  London.  Most  of 
these  had  voices  shrill  and  hoarse  as  a  penny  trumpet 
or  an  old  tin  kettle. 

"  One  hundred  and  fifty  new  and  pop'lar  hairs 
for  a  ha'p'ny,"  or,  "  Three  yards  of  new  and  pop'lar 
songs  for  a  ha'p'ny  "  were  ordinary  cries. 

The  following  were  some  of  the  best  known  ditties 
of  that  period  : 

"  '  Mary,  I  believed  thee  true  '— <  Hookey  Valker.' 

"  <  Vhy  did  I  love  '— «  Miss  Bailey.' 

"  '  Giles  Scroggins  courted  Molly  Brown  ' — '  Hon 
the  banks  of  the  blue  Moselle.' 

"  '  Hif  I  had  a  donkey  vot  vouldn't  go ' — *  Hover 
the  hills  and  far  avay.' 

"  *  My  love  is  like  the  red,  red  rose '— '  D'ye  call 
that  nothin'  ?  ' 

"  '  The  merry  Swiss  boy  ' — *  Vot  a  shocking  bad 
hat.' 

"  '  Nancy  Dawson  ' — c  I  met  her  at  the  fancy 
fair.' 

"  '  His  there  a  heart  wot  never  loved  ?  ' — *  Miss 
Rose,  the  pretty  shroudmaker.' 

"  *  Barclay  and  Perkins'  drayman  ' — '  He  was  famed 
for  deeds  of  arms.' 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  '  That  lovely  girl '— '  Judy  Callaghan.' 

"  '  Do  you  ever  think  of  me  ' — '  Alice  Gray.' 

"  '  The  Fireman  Vaterman  '— *  Billy  Tailor  '—and 

*  The  Dandy  Dogs'-meat  Man,'  with  '  Sally  in  our 

Alley.' 

"  '  Poor  Marian  '— *  Flare  up,'  and  '  Oh,  say  not 

voman's  love  is  bought.'  " 

Not  only  did  such  vendors  sell  and  sing  songs,  but 

after  executions  they  cried  harrowing  accounts  about 

for  weeks. 

"  'Ere  you  'as  it,  'ere  the  full  and  true  partic'lar 

account  of  the  unfort'nate  individ'al  wot  was  hexe- 

crated  this  morning  at  the  *  Old  Billy,'  for  the  small 

charge  of  one  ha'p'ny." 

Draw  hither  now,  good  people  all, 

And  let  my  story  warn  ; 
For  I  will  tell  to  you  a  tale 

Wot'll  rend  those  breasts  of  your'n. 

On  Monday  morn  at  eight  o'clock, 

Right  opposite  Newgate, 
John  Jones  was  hung,  his  horrid  crimes 

All  for  to  expiate. 

The  clock  struck  eight,  the  knot  was  tied, 

Most  dismal  for  to  see  ! 
The  drop  did  fall,  and  launched  him  right 

Into  eternity. 

Take  warning,  then,  all  you  who  would 

Not  die  like  malefactors, 
Never  the  company  for  to  keep 

Of  gals  with  bad  characters. 

The    sports    at    Bachelor's    Acre,    Windsor,    were 
a  great  occasion  for  much  animated  enjoyment. 
1 60 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

They  usually  began  about  three  in  the  afternoon, 
with  a  match  between  six  boys  who  were  to  eat  a 
roll  and  treacle  for  a  hat  with  their  hands  tied  behind 
them  on  a  specially  erected  platform. 

The  rolls,  having  been  well  dipped  in  treacle, 
were  suspended  so  that  they  could  just  reach,  standing 
on  tiptoe,  to  bite  at  them.  Their  endeavours  to  bite 
them  soon  set  the  whole  in  motion,  and  the  faces  of 
the  competitors  being  quickly  besmeared  with  the 
treacle,  so  plentifully  as  to  conceal  every  feature, 
exhibited  a  most  ludicrous  spectacle.  The  contest 
ended,  a  bag  of  feathers  was  produced ;  these  were 
plastered  with  a  very  liberal  hand  on  the  faces  of  the 
performers.  This  reward  for  their  exertions  was  not 
much  coveted  by  the  roll-and-treacle  eating  professors, 
some  of  whom  left  the  platform  with  greater  precipita- 
tion than  they  had  ascended  it,  entertaining  the  crowd 
with  a  somersault  in  their  descent.  The  conductors 
of  the  sports  were  thus  quickly  left  alone,  when  they 
had  a  set-to  among  themselves,  smearing  each  other's 
faces  with  treacle,  and  covering  them  with  feathers, 
and  thus  ended  act  the  first. 

Six  boys  with  their  hands  tied  behind,  as  before, 
next  amused  the  crowd  by  dipping  for  oranges  in  as 
many  pails  of  water.  The  contest  was  quickly  over, 
as  the  pails  being  overset,  the  oranges  were  instantly 
devoured. 

A  jingling  match  followed,  and  to  that  succeeded 
the  amusement  of  grinning  through  horse-collars. 

To  these  diversions  succeeded  the  amusements  of 
jumping  in  sacks,  after  which  the  entertainment 
M  161 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

concluded  with  a  display  of  fireworks  on  the 
Acre. 

The  fair  at  Harlesden  Green  was  another  scene  of 
great  jollity.  A  description  of  it,  in  1811,  shows  the 
characteristic  amusements  of  that  day,  pony  racing, 
jumping  in  sacks,  and  some  matches  at  single-stick, 
which,  as  the  chronicler  declares,  doubtless  delighted 
the  numerous  and  elegant  assemblage. 

The  following  was  the  programme  of  some  rural 
sports  which  took  place  at  Farnham,  in  Surrey,  in  1814, 
to  celebrate  the  peace  : 

"  At  that  well-known  sportive  and  beautiful  spot, 
Tilford  Green,  near  Farnham,  Surrey,  on  Friday,  the 
29th  day  of  July,  1814,  will  be  the  following  fashionable 
amusements  :  Racing  by  colts  for  a  sound  pair  of 
breeches,  the  best  of  three  heats ;  by  fillies,  for  a 
best  Irish  smock,  flounced,  the  best  of  three  heats ; 
the  second  filly  to  be  entitled  to  a  pair  of  inexpressibles, 
with  a  ridicule  attached.  By  donkies,  for  a  bridle, 
to  be  rode  by  gentlemen.  No  celebrated  jockies, 
such  as  Bill  Arnold,  Jack  Cock,  Young  Tattersall,  Will 
West,  Dick  Goodisson,  &c.,  will  be  allowed  to  ride 
any  of  the  above  races.  Single  stick  for  an  old  hat, 
not  much  the  worse  for  wear,  with  a  shiner  added. 
Wrestling  for  a  cheese.  Jumping  in  sacks  for  a  real 
Belcher  handkerchief.  A  gingling  match  for  a  bat 
and  ball.  Driving  a  wheelbarrow  blindfold  for  a 
whalebone  whip.  Drinking  red-hot  tea,  by  old 
women,  for  a  Ib.  of  black  and  all  black.  Straddling  by 
ditto  for  2  Ib.  of  treble  refined  molasses.  Smoking 
for  a  pound  of  black  shag.  Dancing  for  ribbons,  by 
162 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

ladies ;  and  bobbing  for  oranges,  by  gentlemen. 
Wrangling  (if  any)  to  be  decided  by  a  committee  of 
ladies,  all  the  go  :  President,  Poll  Eastcock.  Vice- 
President,  Nan  Trusler.  Every  possible  accommoda- 
tion at  the  Barley-Mow,  on  the  Green.  Beef  roasting 
and  peas  boiling  from  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  till 
twelve  o'clock  at  night.  Barley  broth  and  soda  water 
in  the  highest  perfection.  Wines  of  all  sorts  and 
spirits  of  every  description.  The  sports  to  commence 
at  eleven  o'clock.  Generals  Wellington,  Blucher, 
and  Platoff  are  expected." 

Fairlop  Fair,  which  originated  about  1767,  was  a 
favourite  resort  of  the  mast  and  block  makers  of 
Wapping,  who  regularly  visited  it  on  the  first  Friday 
in  July,  riding  there  in  fully-rigged  model  ships 
mounted  on  wheels  and  drawn  by  horses.  This 
custom  endured  even  after  the  destruction  of  the 
famous  Fairlop  Oak,  and  as  late  as  thirty-five  years 
ago  the  blockmakers  on  the  same  day  used  to  visit 
the  scene  of  past  revelry  still  drawn  in  model  ships,  like 
their  forefathers,  after  which  they  would  dine  at  the 
"  Maypole  "  or  some  other  inn. 

I  am  unaware  whether  anything  of  this  old  custom 
still  survives. 

Another  festival,  which  was  largely  attended  by 
Londoners,  was  Harrow  Fair,  held  on  the  first  Monday 
in  August,  at  one  time  the  resort  of  all  the  gay  and 
beautiful  in  the  neighbourhood.  The  proximity  of 
the  great  school  produced  lively  scenes  at  times. 

Harrow  has  been  famed  in  ages  past  for  the  valorous 
spirit  of  its  youth  ;  and,  in  the  old  days  of  the 
163 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

eighteenth  century,  the  Head  Master  of  the  School 
on  the  Hill  had  been  seen  leading  forth  his  best 
boys  to  try  their  mettle  at  cudgels,  and  wrestling, 
in  the  rings  of  the  neighbouring  villages.  A  boy 
named  Julian  was  especially  famed  for  his  powers  in 
this  direction. 

There  were  always  boxing  booths  at  fairs,  and  a 
regular  prize-fight  not  unusually  closed  the  day's 
entertainment.  As  a  rule  the  local  champion  fared 
badly  at  the  hands  of  the  Fancy,  one  or  two  of  whom 
were  generally  ready  to  fight  all  comers  for  a  purse. 

At  one  of  these  country  fairs,  at  the  close  of  the  day 
some  young  bucks,  hearing  there  was  a  celebrated 
pugilist  from  town  on  the  ground,  saw  the  occasion 
for  a  bit  of  fun,  and  amongst  themselves  collected 
a  purse  of  ^50  for  a  fight  between  the  professor  of 
fisticuffs  and  any  adventurer  willing  to  enter  the 
ring  with  him.  At  first,  several  countrymen,  attracted 
by  the  purse,  came  eagerly  forward  to  contest  the  prize, 
but  on  learning  from  some  good-natured  bystander 
of  the  awkward  customer  they  would  have  to  deal 
with  speedily  withdrew.  Indeed,  it  seemed  as  if 
the  hopes  of  the  philanthropic  bucks  were  to  be 
disappointed,  when  a  good-looking  young  countryman, 
whose  dress  bespoke  neatness  struggling  with  poverty, 
stepped  forward  amid  the  cheers  of  the  populace, 
at  all  times  ready  to  applaud  anything  conducive  to 
their  own  gratification,  however  much  at  the  expense 
of  others.  Some  humane  bystanders  in  vain  tried  to 
dissuade  the  novice  from  a  contest  in  which  defeat 
must  be  certain  ;  he  was  determined  to  fight.  A 
164 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

ring  was  soon  formed,  and  bottle-holders  and  seconds 
named  who  began  to  assist  the  respective  combatants 
in  stripping  for  the  unequal  fray.  The  pugilist  went 
through  this  ceremony  with  the  coolness  of  one  accus- 
tomed to  the  ring,  and,  when  stripped,  showing 
an  athletic  frame,  in  which  every  muscle  appeared 
developed,  unencumbered  with  useless  flesh,  the 
spectators  knew  not  which  most  to  wonder  at,  the 
Herculean  form  which  stood  before  them,  or  the 
temerity  of  the  almost  beardless  youth,  who  obviously 
could  have  no  chance  of  victory. 

The  pugilist,  who  was  not  a  bad  fellow,  tried  to 
dissuade  his  opponent  from  fighting.  "  What,"  said 
he  in  a  low  voice,  "  can  have  induced  you  to  risk 
yourself  against  a  practised  hand  like  me  ?  Take 
my  advice  and  retire  before  it  is  too  late."  "  Never  !  " 
emphatically  rejoined  the  excited  youth.  "  My 
mind  is  made  up  for  the  worst."  "  At  least,  then," 
said  the  pugilist,  who  now  commenced  sparring, 
"  give  in  after  a  few  rounds,  which  will  be  enough  to 
save  your  credit.  I  will  not  punish  you  much,  and 
will  give  you  a  share  of  the  prize."  "  All  or  none," 
was  the  reply ;  and  the  contest  now  commenced  in 
earnest,  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  populace,  which 
was  becoming  very  impatient. 

At  first  the  trained  boxer  had  much  the  best  of  the 
contest,  but  after  some  rounds,  by  accident  rather  than 
design,  he  received  a  blow  which  felled  him  like  an 
ox,  with  the  result  that  he  could  not  be  brought  to 
time,  and  the  youth  was  declared  the  winner. 

The  poor  young  man,  however,  was  terribly 
165 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

battered,  and  sinking  exhausted  to  the  ground,  in  a 
faltering  voice  begged  that  the  .£50  might  be  given 
to  his  mother,  who,  he  entreated,  should  not  be  told 
how  he  had  won  the  dear-bought  gold. 

In  a  moment  or  two  it  was  clear  that  he  had  burst  a 
blood-vessel,  and  he  soon  sank  into  a  stupor  which 
gradually  merged  into  the  sleep  of  death. 

The  money  was  duly  given  to  the  disconsolate 
mother,  and  then  the  motive  which  had  prompted 
the  brave  youth  became  clear. 

She  was  a  poor  widow,  who  had  known  better  days, 
and  the  dead  boy  had  been  her  only  support.  Driven 
almost  to  madness  by  a  distress  warrant  put  into  her 
cottage  for  rent,  and  hearing  of  the  .£50  prize,  this 
devoted  son  had  snatched  at  the  chance  of  saving  the 
little  homestead  from  ruin,  and  by  so  doing  had  for- 
feited his  life. 


166 


VI 


TIKE  all  human  institutions,  good,  bad,  and  in- 
different, the  prize-ring  had  many  ups  and  downs. 
Prize-fighting  flourished  in  Broughton's  time,  but  after 
him,  till  Mendoza,  Jackson,  and  others  of  their  time, 
fell  into  disrepute.'  These  great  boxers,  however, 
raised  the  ring  to  as  high  a  pitch  as  ever ;  after 
them  it  degenerated  again,  till  Belcher's  time.  About 
1822  it  again  began  to  decline. 

Broughton's  amphitheatre,  in  Oxford  Road,  was 
formally  opened  in  1743,  when  a  regular  code  of  rules 
was  drawn  up.  These,  seven  in  number,  must  have 
formed  the  basis  of  all  subsequent  regulations  dealing 
with  fighting  or  boxing. 

These  rules,  here  briefly  condensed,  were  as  follows  : 

I.  That  a  square  of  a  yard  be  chalked  in  the  middle 
of  the  boxing  stage,  and  on  every  set-to  after  a  fall 
or  being  parted   each  second  should   place  his  man 
opposite  the  other,  till  which  time  no  blow  might  be 
struck. 

II.  A  second  had  to  bring  his  man  up  to  time  within 
the  space  of  half  a  minute,  otherwise  he  was  deemed 
beaten. 

III.  No    one    except   principals   and  seconds   was 
allowed   upon   the   boxing   stage,    though   in   minor 
fights    Broughton    might    stand    there    to    preserve 
decorum,  though  not  allowed  in  any  way  to  interfere. 

167 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

IV.  No  boxer  was  deemed  beaten  unless  he  failed 
to  come  to  time  or  his  second  declared  him  vanquished. 
No  second   might   question  his   man's   adversary  or 
advise  him  to  give  in. 

V.  In  bye-battles  the  winner  took  two-thirds  of  the 
money  given,  the  division  to  be  publicly  made  on  the 
stage. 

VI.  To  prevent  disputes  the  principals,  on  coming 
on  to  the  boxing  stage,  should  choose  two  gentlemen 
present  as  umpires  to  decide  all  disputes.     If  these 
two  disagreed,   they  had  to  choose  a  third,  whose 
decision  was  final. 

VII.  No  boxer  was  to  hit  his  adversary  when  he 
was  down,  or  seize  him  by  the  hair,  the  breeches,  or 
any  part  below  the  waist.    A  man  on  his  knees  to  be 
reckoned  down. 

Broughton's  height  did  not  exceed  five  feet  eleven 
inches,  and  his  weight  was  sometimes  above,  some- 
times under,  fourteen  stone.  He  was  remarkably  well 
formed,  but  more  calculated  for  strength  than  action ; 
he  had  a  good  eye. 

Broughton  was  superior  to  all  the  other  pugilists 
of  his  day  in  mental  powers ;  his  sagacity  in  discovering 
the  weakness  of  an  adversary,  and  ability  in  covering 
himself  from  the  most  dangerous  blows,  enabled  him 
to  overcome  many  to  whom  he  was  inferior  in  bodily 
force.  His  favourite  blows  were  straight.  He  used 
round  blows  particularly  when  he  wished  to  strike 
his  antagonist  under  the  left  ear.  When  a  blow  was 
directed  at  his  body  he  beat  it  down  ;  when  his  head 
was  aimed  at,  he  caught  his  opponent's  fist  in  his  open 
1 68 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

hand.  The  cross  buttock  was  known  long  before  his 
days,  but  he  considerably  improved  it  and  brought 
it  into  notice.  Whatever  state  the  science  was  in 
at  that  period,  Broughton,  it  must  be  admitted, 
exceeded  all  other  fighters  in  a  knowledge  of  the 
principles ;  for  his  great  talents  soon  led  him  to 
discover  much  of  the  theory  that  was  before  unknown. 
Many  were  his  superiors  in  strength  and  activity, 
but  none  in  science  and  courage.  He  is  deservedly 
placed  at  the  head  of  the  boxers  of  his  own  time. 
In  private  life  he  is  described  as  having  been  a  civil 
and  amiable  man. 

Another  pillar  of  the  ring  in  its  earlier  days,  Big 
Ben,  whose  real  name  was  Bryan,  was  born  in  the 
year  1753,  at  Bristol,  and  passed  the  early  part  of  his 
life  at  that  place,  where  he  worked  as  a  collier.  Being 
of  an  athletic  make,  and  of  good  bottom,  he  distin- 
guished himself  as  a  capital  boxer  in  that  part  of 
the  kingdom  in  several  bruising  matches,  particularly 
by  beating  Clayton,  the  famous  Shropshire  man, 
and  the  noted  Spaniard  Harris,  of  Kingswood. 
About  the  year  1782  he  came  to  London,  and  worked 
as  a  coal  porter  at  the  Adelphi  Wharf.  The  first 
battle  he  fought  of  any  note  in  London  was  on  Oc- 
tober 3 1st,  1786,  when  he  beat  a  grenadier  of  the 
Guards  in  the  Long  Field,  Bloomsbury.  He  soon 
after  fought  and  beat  Tring,  at  Dartford  Brimp ;  in 
this  fight  they  both  exhibited  great  courage  and 
endurance. 

Big  Ben  fought  many  successful  battles,  notably  one 
with  the  hitherto  unconquered  Johnson,  whom  he 
169 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

completely  vanquished.  No  less  than  .£20,000  is  said 
to  have  depended  upon  the  result  of  the  fight. 

Big  Ben  died  in  1794,  it  is  supposed  in  consequence 
of  some  inward  bruise  which  he  had  got  in  one  of  the 
many  desperate  battles  in  which  he  had  been  engaged  ; 
his  body  was  opened  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining 
the  fact,  when  it  was  found  that  the  liver  was  affected 
in  such  a  manner  that  no  human  power  could  have 
saved  his  life. 

After  Broughton's  time  some  buying  and  selling  of 
fights  took  place,  and  most  of  the  gentlemen  abandoned 
the  ring.  The  sporting  aristocracy  were  the  real 
supporters  of  boxing,  and  while  they  saw  that  all  was 
fair  and  right  the  thing  went  on  well.  They  alone 
were  able  to  maintain  prize-fighting  as  a  more  or 
less  reputable  sport  in  the  face  of  numberless  attacks. 
Even  from  the  very  earliest  days  of  the  modern  prize- 
ring  there  were  not  wanting  many  who  protested 
against  what  they  termed  "  unprovoked  combats " 
between  individuals  unknown  to  each  other,  pro- 
ductive of  idleness,  riot,  and  immorality,  which 
it  was  declared  demoralised  thousands  of  the  lower 
classes. 

In  more  recent  times  boxing  has  of  course  been 
constantly  denounced  by  impressionable  faddists, 
nurtured  on  sentimental  papers,  and  by  fanatics  who 
hate  from  their  hearts  all  sports  and  pleasures. 

The  absurd  outcry  raised  as  to  the  exhibition  of 

cinematograph  pictures  of  the  Johnson-Jeffries  boxing 

match  almost  exactly  coincided  with  what,  it  is  to  be 

feared,  is  a  symptom  of  the  decadence  of  fisticuffs  as 

170 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

a  means  of  settling  disputes,  and  the  rise  in  popularity 
of  far  more  savage  methods. 

Almost  on  the  very  day  when  the  County  Council 
was  solemnly  devoting  its  time  to  discussing  the  de- 
sirability of  the  exhibition  of  pictures  of  the  American 
fight,  three  men  of  British  birth  were  charged  at  the 
Marlborough  Street  Police  Court  with  stabbing, 
wounding,  and  shooting  at  one  another,  the  weapons 
employed  to  settle  some  difference  having  been  a 
revolver,  a  bar  of  iron,  and  a  knife. 

Surely  the  old  English  fashion  of  settling  a  quarrel 
by  means  of  the  fists  was  better  than  this ! 

No  one,  indeed,  who  has  studied  the  records  of 
the  old  fights  can  feel  sure  that  the  influence  on  the 
spectators  was  entirely  evil.  The  old  prize-ring,  no 
doubt,  was  inevitably  connected  with  much  coarse- 
ness and  brutality,  and,  of  course,  owed  a  good  deal 
of  its  vitality  to  the  eternal  desire  of  unscrupulous 
and  disreputable  characters  to  extract  money  from 
the  pockets  of  wealthy  and  easy-going  fools.  The 
ring,  of  course,  practically  existed  for  the  edification 
of  the  Corinthians,  the  majority  of  whom  were  ever 
ready  to  welcome  any  diverting  method  of  getting 
rid  of  that  cash  which  a  number  of  them  found  so 
scarce  at  the  close  of  their  lives.  The  prize-fighters 
themselves  were  generally  unedifying  and  intemperate 
persons  drawn  from  a  very  low  class. 

Nevertheless,  the  old  prize-ring  possibly  served  no 

bad  purpose   in   its   day,   the  glamour   which  hung 

around  it   spreading  abroad   a   spirit   of   dogged,   if 

brutal,    courage    which    largely   contributed    to    the 

171 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

victories  of  our  English  soldiery  in  the  Peninsula  and 
at  Waterloo.  For  this  reason  the  author  entirely 
refuses  to  indulge  in  sentimental  lamentations  over 
the  moral  degradation  induced  by  the  ring,  though, 
at  the  same  time,  he  admits  that  its  revival  in  anything 
like  its  original  form  would  be  highly  undesirable  at 
the  present  time. 

To-day  a  real  prize-fight  in  the  old  style  is  practically 
a  thing  of  the  past,  though  boxing  still  flourishes. 

The  fights  at  the  National  Sporting  Club,  for 
instance,  are  generally  models  of  what  such  contests 
should  be.  Such  prize-fights  as  still  take  place  in 
England  at  the  present  day  are  almost  invariably 
hole-and-corner  affairs  brought  off  with  considerable 
difficulty.  Occasionally,  however,  a  real  old-fashioned 
fight  takes  place  before  a  select  or  non-select  company 
in  some  carefully  chosen  spot. 

In  March  of  the  present  year  (1910),  for  instance, 
a  prize-fight  in  quite  the  old-fashioned  style  took  place 
one  Tuesday  afternoon  in  a  quiet  spot  by  Primrose 
Hill.  This  was  carried  to  a  conclusion  without  any 
interference  from  the  authorities,  who  probably  heard 
of  it  for  the  first  time  from  a  newspaper  account  some 
days  later,  in  which  their  apathy  was  roundly  de- 
nounced. 

In  the  palmy  days  of  the  ring  most  elaborate  arrange- 
ments for  providing  spectators  with  a  good  view  of  a 
fight  were  made  quite  openly.  A  typical  instance  of 
this  occurred  with  respect  to  the  combat  between 
Painter  and  Sutton,  the  black,  in  1817.  The  sensa- 
tion produced  in  Norwich  by  this  encounter  was 
172 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

one  of  the  most  lively  description.  Vehicles  and 
modes  of  conveyance  of  every  possible  kind  were  all 
in  requisition  in  that  city  and  neighbourhood  the 
evening  preceding  the  fight,  and  the  march  to  the 
field  of  battle  commenced  with  not  a  few  as  early  as 
four  o'clock  in  the  morning.  At  eight  o'clock  the 
different  roads  converging  upon  Bungay  presented  a 
bustling  and  animated  scene  ;  cavalcades,  strings  of 
carriages,  and  long  lines  of  pedestrians,  forming  a 
mingled  mass,  which  increased  at  every  step  towards 
the  arena,  on  the  Common,  near  the  town.  The 
arrangements  for  accommodating  the  spectators,  and 
for  keeping  the  ground,  were  made  with  so  much 
judgment  and  success,  that  nothing  could  exceed  the 
good  order  which  prevailed  during  the  whole  time 
among  an  assemblage  of  at  least  ten,  and,  as  some 
calculated,  twelve  thousand  persons.  The  outer 
ring,  about  eighty  yards  in  diameter,  was  formed  by  a 
circle  of  forty  wagons,  chained  together  ;  upon  this 
line  the  multitude,  on  the  arrival  of  the  combatants 
and  their  seconds,  were  ranged  back,  leaving  an  ample 
space  clear  to  the  inner  ring,  in  which  the  battle  was 
fought.  The  front  row  of  people  kneeling,  those 
behind  them  standing,  and  the  wagons  completely 
filled,  constituted  the  gradations  of  a  regular  amphi- 
theatre. The  battle  in  question,  which  lasted  for  one 
hour  and  forty-two  minutes,  resulted  in  the  defeat 
of  the  black,  and  Painter  was  drawn  in  triumph 
off  the  ground  in  a  post  chaise  through  the  town  of 
Bungay  by  an  enthusiastic  crowd. 

The    stake    fought    for   was    comparatively    small, 
£80  for  the  winner  and  £20  for  the  loser. 
173 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Whilst  there  appears  to  have  been  a  serious  effort 
to  secure  fair  play,  there  is  no  doubt  that  all  sorts  of 
subterfuges  were  employed  by  some  prize-fighters 
when  they  were  losing.  In  the  worst  cases  of  all 
various  shifts  and  manreuvres  would  be  brought  into 
play  and  time  prolonged  to  its  utmost  limits.  Of  a 
sudden  a  shrill  whistle  would  be  heard,  and  quickly 
answered  by  a  simultaneous  rush  to  the  ring.  The 
ropes  would  then  be  cut,  and  in  the  interval  occasioned 
by  so  much  confusion,  the  beaten  man  would  have  a 
chance  to  recover  by  a  seasonable  prolongation  of 
time.  After  the  usual  requisition  of  whips,  sticks,  and 
blows  of  all  sorts  had  been  in  force,  and  the  groans 
of  the  wounded  had  died  away,  tranquillity  would 
generally  be  restored,  and  the  fight  proceed  for  a 
short  time  longer.  In  some  cases,  however,  any 
definite  termination  would  be  prevented  altogether. 

All  through  the  eighteenth  century  fistic  encounters 
were  highly  popular  with  all  classes.  It  may  not  be 
generally  known  that  Sir  Isaac  Newton,  who  died  in 
1726-7,  above  the  age  of  eighty,  used  to  strip  up  his 
shirt  sleeve  but  a  short  time  before  his  death,  and 
showing  his  muscular  brawny  arm,  would  relate  how 
dexterous  he  had  been  in  his  youth  at  the  practice  of 
boxing. 

Quite  a  number  of  learned  men  were  fair  boxers, 
amongst  whom  was  Dr.  Johnson,  who  is  said  to  have 
been  well  able  to  hold  his  own  with  his  fists. 

During  the  days  of  the  Regency  prize-fighting  ranked 
as  a  sport  next  to  racing.  George  IV,  when  Prince  of 
Wales,  was  a  very  liberal  patron  and  supporter  of  the 
174 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

ring;  indeed,  it  was  said  that  at  one  time  very  few 
amateurs  in  England  could  approach  him  in  knowledge 
of  pugilism. 

At  the  time  when  the  Fives  Court  was  a  popular 
lounge,  the  place  was  full  of  noble  sportsmen,  though 
naturally  shady  characters  were  always  abundant 
enough. 

Pugilism  was  then  much  on  the  same  level  with 
racing,  fox-hunting,  and  other  first-rate  sports,  and 
the  prize-fighters  themselves  looked  happy,  sleek,  and 
respectable  on  the  support  afforded  by  their  envying 
countrymen. 

In  all  the  pictures  of  the  Fives  Court,  the  Life 
Guardsman  Larkin  is  a  conspicuous  figure.  Larkin 
actually  asked  to  be  allowed  to  leave  the  Guards, 
in  order  that  he  might  go  into  the  ring  and  contend 
with  Spring,  but  was,  after  much  conversation  with 
his  officers,  dissuaded  from  so  doing. 

Prominent  pugilists  excited  so  much  interest  that 
instances  of  personation  were  not  rare.  In  1809  a 
man  arrived  at  Yarmouth  who  announced  himself  as 
the  celebrated  Cribb,  and  that  he  had  come  down  for 
the  purpose  of  meeting  Gregson  at  the  Globe  Bowling 
Green,  Gorleston,  to  determine  a  match  for  one 
thousand  guineas.  He  was,  in  consequence,  waited 
on  by  the  knowing  ones,  who,  being  fully  satisfied  he 
was  the  person  he  represented  himself  to  be,  sent 
notice  to  their  country  friends  to  apprise  them  of  what 
was  going  forward.  About  three  o'clock  next  day  a 
large  party,  on  horseback,  in  chaises,  and  on  foot, 
steered  their  course  towards  the  scene  of  action. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Cribb  walked  down,  accompanied  by  a  number  of 
sporting  men,  after  resisting  all  entreaties  to  have  a 
chaise,  and  arrived  at  the  "  Globe "  at  the  appointed 
time,  where  he  ordered  a  room  and  put  on  his  fighting 
dress.  Four  o'clock  came,  and  no  Gregson  arriving,  the 
people  began  to  be  impatient,  insisted  on  seeing  the 
said  Mr.  Cribb,  and  threatened  to  toss  him  in  a  blanket. 
He  still  persisted  in  his  story,  insinuated  that  Gregson 
durst  not  meet  him,  and  that  he,  of  course,  should 
claim  the  forfeit  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  guineas. 
This  not  being  satisfactory;  the  mob  were  proceeding 
to  treat  him  roughly,  when  a  naval  officer  recognised 
him  as  belonging  to  the  navy,  and  labouring  under 
mental  derangement.  He  took  him  under  his  pro- 
tection, and  the  crowd  dispersed. 

Occasionally  some  famous  prize-fighter  would  con- 
ceal his  identity  and  enter  the  ring  as  an  ordinary 
individual.  This  generally  created  considerable  irri- 
tation. 

In  1823  a  number  of  the  Fancy  were  collected  at 
one  of  the  Somersetshire  race  meetings,  when  it  was 
proposed  to  make  up  a  purse  for  a  fight  on  the  last  day  ; 
and  accordingly  a  handsome  subscription  was  speedily 
raised.  A  difficulty,  however,  occurred  which  was 
like  to  have  disappointed  the  amateurs  of  their 
intended  gratification.  One  had  been  named,  who 
had  the  character  of  being  such  a  good  'un  that  the 
small-hearted  aspirants  to  fistic  fame  who  were 
present  were  alarmed  at  the  idea  of  standing  up  to  the 
crack  man  of  the  country.  Amid  pipes,  porter, 
good  refreshment,  and  cigars,  were  the  sporting  men 
176 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

collected,  in  order  to  attempt,  by  gentle  persuasion, 
or  otherwise,  to  induce  some  one  bolder  than  his 
compeers  to  give  up  his  body  for  half  an  hour  to  be 
beaten  and  hammered  by  this  man  of  science.  Such 
a  one  was  not  to  be  had.  All  was  perplexity  and  dis- 
appointment, when  a  person,  well  known  in  the 
sporting  world,  stepped  forward  and  said  that  sooner 
than  no  mill  he  would  produce  a  man,  whether  able 
or  not,  at  least  willing  to  fight.  He  did  produce 
him  ;  and  such  an  awkward-looking  cub,  rigged  in  a 
rough  great-coat  and  slouch  hat,  that  the  country- 
man was  quite  frisky,  and  the  odds  in  his  favour. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  the  stranger,  though  only  about 
two  people  knew  it,  was  Jem  Ward,  the  Black  Diamond 
of  the  prize-ring.  A  good  deal  of  money  was  laid 
on  the  result,  and  the  company  dispersed. 

When  the  day  for  the  fight  came,  some  one  told  the 
countryman  just  before  he  entered  the  ring  who  his 
opponent  was.  "  Black  Diamond  !  "  said  the  brave 
fellow.  "  If  he  was  the  Black  Devil  I'd  have  a  shy  at 
him  "  ;  and  he  prepared  accordingly. 

At  setting-to  Ward  acted  entirely  on  the  defensive, 
with  his  head  hanging,  chest  contracted,  hands  merely 
held  out,  and  every  other  requisite  for  appearing 
awkward  and  keeping  up  the  hoax.  Slow  as  he  ap- 
peared, however,  he  was  still  awake  enough  to  prevent 
the  countryman  from  hitting  him.  At  last,  after  the 
crack  man  had  made  many  ineffectual  attempts  to  hit, 
he  lost  patience,  and  sang  out,  "  This  is  all  humbug ; 
they  tell  me  that  you're  Jem  Ward,  the  Black  Diamond. 
Strike  out  and  lick  me  as  soon  as  you  can."  For  a 

N  177 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

moment  he  was  confused  ;  but  immediately  recollect- 
ing himself,  smiled,  gathered  himself  up,  and  went  into 
his  natural  attitude  with  such  an  air  of  conscious 
superiority  that  one  could  almost  for  a  second  have 
thought  that  it  was  a  hero  of  romance,  instead  of  a  limb 
of  the  prize-ring.  He  did  "  strike  out  "  ;  every  blow 
told  like  a  sledge  hammer,  and  his  man  was  licked  to  a 
jelly  in  a  few  minutes.  When  the  circumstance  became 
known,  the  subscribers  were  so  enraged  that  some 
wished  to  recover  their  money,  others  that  it  should 
be  given  to  the  countryman,  and  all  agreed  that  Jem 
should  receive  none.  Some  did  recover  their  money  ; 
and  the  remainder,  about  .£20,  was  eventually  divided. 
It  is  said  Jem  gave  up  his  share,  excepting  two  or 
three  pounds  to  pay  his  expenses. 

A  century  or  so  ago  pugilism  was  part  of  the  national 
life,  and  if  the  first  gentleman  in  England  insulted  the 
meanest  porter,  the  latter  would  resent  it  manfully ; 
he  had  been  taught  from  his  infancy  to  fight  his  own 
battles,  and  never  to  put  up  with  a  blow,  and  the 
law  in  this  protected  him.  In  the  schools  the  boy 
avenged  openly  his  quarrel,  and  his  courage,  applauded 
by  his  master  and  companions,  grew  with  his  growth  ; 
nay,  if  insulted  by  a  much  stouter  lad,  however  hope- 
less the  resistance,  honour  forbade  his  submitting, 
without  showing  his  bottom  by  a  round  or  two. 

The  great  majority  of  schoolboys  were  well  skilled 
in  using  their  fists,  and  fighting  was  supposed  to 
promote  manliness  and  pluck  in  after  life.  Hence  the 
saying  (wrongly,  I  believe)  attributed  to  the  Iron 
Duke,  that  the  battle  of  Waterloo  was  won  on  the 
178 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

playing  fields  at  Eton,  where  many  fistic  contests  took 
place. 

These  Eton  battles  were  invariably  fought  with 
hats  on,  which  aroused  very  stinging  criticism  from 
the  Westminster  boys  in  the  days  of  rivalry  between 
the  two  schools.  The  latter  declared  that  the  victory 
generally  rested  not  with  the  best  man,  but  with  the 
best  beaver,  against  which  knuckles  stood  but  a  poor 
chance. 

At  the  Universities  boxing  was  also  in  high  repute 
amongst  sporting  undergraduates,  and  though  for- 
bidden to  do  so,  many  attended  sparring  exhibitions 
given  by  fistic  champions  who  toured  all  over  England. 
On  one  occasion  three  celebrated  pugilists,  Randall, 
West  Country  Dick,  and  Purcell,  took  up  their 
quarters  at  the  Chequers  Inn,  at  Oxford,  where  for 
some  days  they  delighted  a  numerous  audience  by 
demonstrating  their  skill.  The  undergraduates  natu- 
rally flocked  to  the  show,  which  reaching  the  ears  of 
the  authorities,  led  to  the  unwelcome  appearance 
of  a  proctor  and  his  bulldogs.  "  Fellow,"  said  the 
former  to  Purcell,  who  acted  as  doorkeeper,  "  I 
charge  you  to  say  who  are  those  men.  As  I  live,  it's  a 
regular  boxing  match  !  " 

Purcell,  who  cared  little  for  any  one  and  nothing  for 
proctors,  promptly  replied,  "  West  Country  Dick, 
to  be  sure,  and  that  'ere  other  young  fellow  we  calls 
the  '  Nonpareil ' — three  shillings,  if  you  please." 
A  scene  of  confusion  ensued  amongst  the  gownsmen, 
but  PurcelFs  obstinacy  in  demanding  entrance  money 
gave  many  time  to  escape. 

179 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting   Ways 

It  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  rival  swains  to 
decide  who  should  lead  some  fair  one  to  the  altar  by 
trial  by  battle.  The  object  of  their  affection  seems  in 
most  cases  to  have  been  perfectly  agreeable  to  such 
an  arrangement. 

In  January,  1803,  a  pugilistic  contest  took  place  in 
a  field  near  Billingborough,  in  Lincolnshire.  The 
bet  was  a  guinea  and  a  girl,  and  the  combatants  were 
a  shepherd  of  Billingborough  and  a  tailor  named 
Horbling.  They  met  pursuant  to  public  advertise- 
ment ;  and  the  event  excited  so  much  interest  in  the 
neighbourhood  that  crowds  from  all  the  surrounding 
villages  nocked  to  see  the  scene  of  the  fight.  After 
many  severe  rounds,  and  a  long  running  fight,  the 
shepherd  was  declared  victor,  and  carried  off  his  fair 
prize  in  triumph. 

A  resort  to  fisticuffs  was,  indeed,  a  very  common  way 
of  settling  disputes. 

When  the  Irish  giant,  O'Brien,  was  exhibiting 
himself  at  the  Crown  and  Mitre  Inn,  Carlisle,  about 
1802,  a  few  young  men  prevailed  upon  him  to  spend 
the  night  with  them.  Cards  being  introduced  in  the 
course  of  the  night,  one  of  the  company  suspected 
him  of  unfair  play,  and  boldly  charged  him  with  it. 
The  giant,  exasperated,  rose  from  his  seat.  His 
accuser,  no  way  daunted,  stripped  off  his  coat,  and 
prepared  for  the  unequal  combat.  O'Brien  aimed  a 
blow  at  his  antagonist's  forehead,  which  the  latter, 
with  the  agility  of  a  harlequin,  avoided,  slipping 
between  the  giant's  legs  and  administering  a  punch 
in  the  short  ribs,  the  effect  of  which  caused  the  giant 
1 80 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  gasp  and  assume  a  look  which  alarmed  the  whole 
company.  Nevertheless,  Goliath  had  had  enough, 
for  he  apologised  and  shook  this  modern  David  by  the 
hand,  after  which  the  party  indulged  in  conviviality 
with  the  greatest  good-humour  till  a  late  hour.  The 
conqueror  of  O'Brien  was  at  the  time  nineteen  years  of 
age,  and  the  difference  in  height  was  upwards  of  three 
feet. 

A  notorious  bully  was  once  done  out  of  an  expected 
triumph  by  the  following  stratagem. 

The  bully  had  insisted  on  fighting  a  man  (a  stranger), 
who  had  done  nothing  to  offend  him,  and  who  was 
scarcely  more  than  half  his  size.  As  the  bully  stripped 
in  preparation  for  the  fray,  his  unwilling  antagonist 
opened  the  door  of  the  room,  saying  he  would  call 
in  a  friend  to  see  fair  play.  Some  one  in  the  adjoining 
apartment  instantly  brushed  in,  and  said  he  would 
"take  care  that  there  should  be  no  foul  play."  Looking 
earnestly  at  the  unwilling  combatant,  "  Hark  you," 
said  he,  "  how  did  you  manage  about  the  man  that 
you  killed  in  Wales  ?  "  "  Oh,"  replied  the  other 
quite  as  seriously,  "  I  got  clear.  I  only  killed  him  in 
fair  fighting.  They  could  not  touch  me."  The  bully, 
hearing  the  first  part  of  this  short  dialogue,  gathered 
up  his  clothes,  with  as  little  noise  as  possible  ;  and, 
by  the  time  it  was  finished,  having  completely  secured 
a  retreat,  faced  his  antagonist  with,  "  At  any  rate, 
you're  not  going  to  kill  me,"  and  ran  away. 

A  pugilistic  encounter  which  excited  much  ridicule 
was  a  fight  between  two  famous  jockeys,  Goodison  and 
Chifney.  They  made  great  fools  of  themselves 
ill 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

flapping  and  dapping  each  other  over  the  mazzard 
and  the  chaps,  like  a  couple  of  great  awkward  girls, 
and  had  they  been  no  better  jockeys  than  boxers, 
their  names  would  never  have  been  entitled  to  a 
place  in  the  chronicles  of  sport. 

George  Morland,  the  painter,  was  fond  of  boxing, 
and  at  one  time  hired  a  large  room  which  he  kept  as 
a  school  for  sparring;  but  the  pugilists  soon  did  so 
much  injury  to  the  premises  that  the  landlord  was 
glad  to  get  rid  of  such  mischievous  tenants.  While  this 
academy  was  supported,  he  took  great  delight  in  the 
sport ;  he  would  often  give  prizes  to  the  combatants, 
and  provided  them  with  plenty  of  good  cheer.  The 
pugilists,  of  course,  were  always  taking  advantage 
of  Morland's  good-nature.  One  day  Ward  applied  to 
him  for  a  horse  to  ride  to  some  fight ;  Morland 
assented,  and  the  boxer  proceeded  to  the  stable, 
selecting  one  which,  exclusive  of  the  saddle,  was 
worth  about  twenty  guineas.  A  week  had  elapsed 
before  the  animal  was  missed,  from  among  so  many ; 
and  Ward  being  questioned  concerning  him  by 
Morland,  when  next  they  met,  the  pugilist  impudently 
informed  him  that  the  horse  was  sold.  When  Morland 
was  asked  if  he  did  not  reprove  him  for  his  dishonest 
conduct,  his  answer  showed  that  he  feared  the  con- 
sequences. 

Morland  seems  to  have  been  very  averse  to  respect- 
able society,  and  particularly  disliked  meeting  people 
of  high  rank,  even  when  they  shared  his  vulgar  pro- 
pensities. On  one  occasion,  having  made  an  appoint- 
ment together  with  Bob  Packer,  the  prize-fighter,  to 
182 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

meet  some  congenial  pillars  of  the  ring  at  the  Rummer 
Tavern,  Charing  Cross,  the  expected  party  did  not 
arrive,  but  in  their  place  entered  the  Duke  of  Hamilton 
who,  looking  at  the  artist,  said  to  Packer,  "  Who  is 
he  ?  "  Bob  replied,  "  Morland,  the  painter."  "  Can 
he  spar  ?  "  "  Yes,  your  Grace."  The  Duke  then  bade 
him  stand  up,  and  Morland  obeyed  ;  but  the  first 
blow  knocked  him  across  the  room  ;  and  he  afterwards 
declared  he  was  so  upset  by  the  name  of  the  nobleman, 
that,  had  he  possessed  the  utmost  skill,  he  could  not 
have  employed  it.  His  Grace  next  ordered  a  coach, 
and  after  enquiring  of  Morland  where  he  was  going, 
desired  him  to  get  into  it,  with  Packer,  and  said  he 
would  set  him  down.  The  noble  Duke  then  mounted 
the  box,  and  the  coachman  got  behind.  When  they 
arrived  near  Morland's  mansion,  the  Duke  stopped 
and  asked  which  was  the  house.  On  being  told  it  was 
three  doors  farther,  he  abruptly  bade  the  painter  get 
out,  and  in  a  manner  that  did  not  a  little  hurt  his 
pride  ;  for  he  often  observed,  when  speaking  of  this 
incident,  that  he  never  was  so  chagrined  at  any  insult 
he  had  ever  received.  In  fact,  Morland  had  a  con- 
siderable share  of  pride,  which  was  exceedingly 
mortified  when,  from  being  treated  disrespectfully, 
he  felt  the  effects  of  his  dissipated  and  careless  life. 

Notwithstanding  the  popularity  of  the  ring,  there 
were  from  time  to  time — especially  in  1820 — rumours 
that  prize-fighting  was  to  be  rigorously  suppressed  by 
fresh  legislation.  When  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  ring, 
Scroggins,  was  told  this,  he  said  he  could  not  under- 
stand such  a  thing  at  all.  "  He'd  lived  all  his  life  by 
183 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

fighting — either  the  enemies  of  his  country,  abroad,  or 
his  friends  at  home  ;  it  was  all  alike  to  him,  so  as  he 
could  get  his  grog ;  and  what  harm  there  was  in  a 
bit  of  a  set-to  he  could  not  discover.  Howsomedever, 
he  hoped  as  the  Prince  Regent  would  think  better 
of  the  thing,  and  let  them  go  on  in  the  old  way." 

Scroggins  had  been  reared  in  a  real  fighting  school, 
his  nursery  being  a  British  man-of-war,  and  no  tar 
in  the  ship  was  more  good-humoured  or  accommo- 
dating. He  was  found  to  be  equally  ready  and  expert 
in  boxing  the  compass  or  in  boxing  his  shipmates, 
and  in  this  practice  he  continued  till  the  arrival  of 
peace,  when  an  opportunity  was  no  longer  afforded 
him  to  correct  his  friends  or  to  chastise  his  enemies. 
On  quitting  his  natural  element  he  at  once  determined 
to  make  fighting  his  trade. 

In  consequence  of  the  apprehension  which  the 
proposed  restrictions  excited  amongst  the  Fancy,  a 
heated  debate  was  held  at  the  Castle  Tavern,  Holborn, 
which  some  time  was  the  head-quarters  of  the  prize- 
ring,  kept  by  two  of  its  heroes,  Tom  Belcher  and 
Tom  Spring.  Here  was  instituted  the  Daffy  Club, 
as  the  assemblage  of  all  the  prominent  prize-fighters 
was  called.  The  long  room  was  adorned  with  sporting 
prints  and  portraits  of  pugilistic  heroes,  including 
Jem  Belcher,  Burke,  Jackson,  Tom  Belcher,  old  Joe 
Ward,  Dutch  Sam,  Gregson,  Humphries,  Mendoza, 
Cribb,  Molineux,  Gully,  Randall,  Turner,  Martin, 
Harmer,  Spring,  Neat,  Hickman,  Painter,  Scroggins, 
and  countless  other  pillars  of  the  ring. 

In  1827  Belcher  retired,  being  succeeded  by  Tom 
184 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Spring  (whose  real  name  was  Winter).  Spring,  who 
boasted  the  proud  title  of  being  the  immediate 
successor  of  Cribb,  as  Champion  of  England,  prospered 
at  the  "  Castle  "  many  years. 

Cribb  presided  at  the  meeting  held  to  discuss  the 
dangers  which  seemed  to  threaten  the  very  existence 
of  the  prize-ring. 

"  Brave  Tom,  the  Champion,  with  an  air 
Almost  Corinthian,  took  the  chair, 
And  kept  the  coves  in  quiet  tune, 

By  showing  such  a  fist  of  mutton 
As  on  a  point  of  order  soon 

Would  take  the  shine  from  Speaker  Sutton. 

Many  of  the  leading  prize-fighters  made  stirring 
orations — Gregson,  in  particular,  was  loudly  ap- 
plauded. He  deplored  the  attempt  to  interfere  with 
professional  pursuits.  As  far  as  he  could  see,  fighting 
in  the  open  air  was  to  be  prohibited,  and  prize-fighters 
would  have  to  conduct  their  mills  in  a  confined  room, 
to  the  injury  of  their  health,  and  to  the  exclusion  of 
many  of  their  kind  friends — or  they  could  not  fight  at 
all ;  and  if  they  could  not  fight  at  all,  what  was  to 
become  of  them  ?  Why,  they  must  starve  (cries  of 
"  Too  true  ").  Was  this  state  of  things  to  be  endured  ? 
Was  the  spirit  of  Britons  to  be  thus  cowed  ?  Were 
they,  in  spite  of  themselves,  to  keep  their  teeth  in 
their  heads,  and  their  heads  on  their  shoulders  ? 
It  was  not  to  be  borne — it  was  not  natural — it  was 
not  rational.  It  was  treating  them  like  brutes,  and, 
therefore,  he  should  propose  that  a  petition  should  be 
185 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

sent  to  Parliament,  praying  that  the  "  milling  coves  " 
might  be  left  out  of  the  bill. 

Ned  Turner  made  a  more  ambitious  oration.  He 
said  that  he  considered  the  Fancy,  like  the  political 
world,  to  be  composed  of  three  distinct  bodies ; 
the  latter  had  their  Tories,  their  Whigs,  and  their 
Radicals,  and  the  Fancy  had  their  amateurs,  their 
milling  coves,  and  their  prigs.  The  amateurs  and  the 
milling  coves  might  always  agree,  but  the  prigs  spoilt 
all ;  and  it  was  from  the  rascality  of  the  latter  that 
the  former  were  brought  into  disrepute.  He  should, 
therefore,  while  he  agreed  to  vote  for  the  original 
motion,  beg  leave  to  add  another  resolution,  and 
that  was,  that  they  should  one  and  all  unite  to  eradicate 
every  prig  that  should  hereafter  infest  the  ring. 

Though  the  rumoured  restrictions  were  never  put  in 
force,  the  palmy  days  of  prize-fighting  ended  about 
1822,  when  most  sporting  gentlemen  became  dis- 
gusted with  the  ring  and  left  it,  their  places  being 
supplied  by  low  horse-dealers,  keepers  of  public-houses 
and  bullies ;  men  who  had  not  the  most  distant 
idea  of  boxing,  as  it  contributed  to  the  maintenance 
of  honour  and  fair  play,  but  supported  it  on  account 
of  the  money  they  got  by  the  roguery  of  those  they 
bribed  to  sell  their  best  friend. 

At  this  period  greed  of  gain  had  thoroughly  cor- 
rupted the  ring,  and  prize-fighters  sneered  at  the  small 
sums  which  their  predecessors  had  gladly  received. 
The  following  conversation  shows  the  state  of  things 
which  prevailed  in  1 826.  Jem  Ward  and  Peter  Crawley 
having  accidentally  met  in  St.  Paul's  Churchyard, 
1 86 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Crawley  suggested  that  a  projected  fight  between  them 
should  be  brought  off,  upon  which  Ward  replied  : 
"  What !  fight  for  a  lousy  hundred  ?  Why,  I  owe 
two  fifties  already,  and  where's  the  use  of  fighting  to 
remain  fifty  behind-hand  ?  " 

Crawley  :  "  I  know,  Jem,  you'll  be  glad  to  fight 
for  a  hundred  some  day,  and  you  may  as  well  fight 
me  as  any  one  else." 

A  friend  of  Crawley's  here  suggested  that  as  both 
parties  appeared  to  be  in  want  of  blunt,  they  had 
better  agree  to  spar  together,  and  raise  the  wind  by 
that  means. 

As  a  consequence  of  this  state  of  affairs  the  Cor- 
inthians began  to  desert  the  ring,  and  in  consequence 
great  exertions  were  made  among  its  humbler  votaries 
to  keep  up  the  spirit  of  the  sport,  in  the  hope  that 
the  time  was  not  far  distant  when  it  might  revive 
under  its  late  powerful  supporters,  and  that  "  good 
men  and  true  "  might  again  be  found  to  deserve  the 
patronage  once  so  liberally  extended. 

In  1830  the  Fives  Court,  once  the  favourite  resort 
of  the  sporting  aristocracy  had  fallen  in  its  fortunes, 
and  its  frequenters  were  mostly  little  pickpockets, 
dirty-looking  mechanics,  and  butchers.  The  exhibi- 
tions of  sparring  had  then  become  few  and  far  between, 
whilst  the  sporting  aristocracy  were  disgusted  with 
the  ring. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  real  use  of  the  prize-ring, 

which  was  to  inculcate  hardihood  and  indifference  to 

danger,  ended  with  the  close  of  the  Napoleonic  wars, 

and  therefore  the  decadence  of  mere  prize-fighting  as 

187 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

distinguished  from  scientific  boxing  was  scarcely  to  be 
deplored. 

Nevertheless,  as  has  before  been  said,  the  bellicose 
spirit,  for  which  the  prize-ring  had  been  responsible, 
was  extremely  useful  in  the  days  when  England  was 
struggling  against  the  great  Emperor.  Many  men 
who  had  entered  the  ring  fell  fighting  gloriously. 
A  conspicuous  example  was  Shaw,  the  pugilistic 
Life  Guardsman,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Waterloo 
during  one  of  the  desperate  charges  which  his  regiment 
made  against  the  enemy.  This  hero  was  born  in 
Nottinghamshire  (though  some  give  Witherslack,  in 
Westmorland,  as  his  birthplace)  about  the  year  1788. 

Nottinghamshire  always  has  been,  and  still  is,  a 
sporting  district ;  it  was  the  county  of  "  merry 
Sherwood,"  and  of  merry  Sherwood's  denizens, 
Robin  Hood  and  his  stalwart  archers,  and  of  many 
others,  gentle  and  simple,  famed  in  rustic  and  athletic 
exercise,  and  fitted  to  wage  their  country's  battles. 
The  gallant  Forty-fifth  Infantry,  one  of  the  most 
distinguished  old  Peninsular  regiments,  was  chiefly 
recruited  in  the  county. 

Shaw  joined  the  Life  Guards  when  quite  a  young 
man.  He  was  considerably  above  six  feet  in  height, 
and  his  weight,  when  stripped  for  fighting  in  the 
prize-ring,  was  about  fifteen  stone.  In  general  appear- 
ance he  was  a  stout-made  man,  without  any  particular 
points.  His  first  effort  to  become  a  candidate  for 
pugilistic  fame  was  against  a  sailor  at  Combe  Warren, 
in  1812,  and  this  opponent  he  beat  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  without  even  a  scratched  face.  Nevertheless,  the 
1 88 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  ff^ays 

sailor,  a  stout  fellow  of  nearly  Shaw's  weight,  made  a 
good  stand-up  fight  with  Molineux,  the  black,  in 
Tothill  Fields.  The  black  won  it  in  an  hour,  and 
this  combat  led  to  the  first  battle  between  him  and 
Cribb.  Shaw  had  often  exhibited  in  the  Fives  Court 
to  much  disadvantage,  as  he  was  without  science, 
and  in  these  exhibitions  he  generally  strove  to  rival 
Molineux,  who  had  a  fine  opportunity  of  showing 
off  his  science  upon  Shaw's  head.  So  pleased  was  the 
Life  Guardsman  with  himself  on  these  occasions 
that,  on  leaving  the  stage,  he  invariably  declared, 
before  the  amateurs,  that  he  had  got  the  best  of  his 
sable  rival.  At  length,  however,  by  repeatedly 
putting  on  the  gloves,  he  got  some  smatterings  of 
science,  and  daily  improving,  though  never  more 
than  a  second-rater,  he  ended  by  at  least  knowing 
how  to  hit  and  break  away.  Shaw  was  a  stranger  to 
fear,  as  he  exemplified  at  Waterloo,  where  it  was  an 
acknowledged  fact  that  he  did  much  execution  after 
life  was  half  exhausted.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  he 
received  the  finishing  ball  when  still  fighting.  Shaw, 
a  short  while  before  he  left  England  for  the  scene 
of  hostilities,  met  some  bargemen,  in  Marylebone, 
who  upbraided  him  with  the  colour  of  his  cloth,  which 
led  to  a  street  fight.  When  the  Life  Guardsman 
had  nearly  vanquished  one,  two  others  assisted  their 
companion  ;  but  all  three  got  a  merited  milling  in  a 
few  minutes,  very  little  quarter  being  shown.  A 
few  weeks  before  his  departure  Shaw  beat  Painter 
on  Twickenham  Common  ;  the  latter  was  a  man  as 
good  and  as  game  as  any  in  the  ring.  Painter,  it  is 
189 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

true,  was  not  in  his  best  form,  but  neither  was  Shaw. 
The  latter  seemed  very  cool  and  cheerful,  as  well  as 
careful.  He  made  his  hits  at  first,  and  broke  away  in 
good  style,  ready  again  to  receive  his  adversary.  He 
went  in,  after  well  measuring  his  distance,  and  won 
the  fight  very  cleverly,  severely  beating  his  man  in 
three-quarters  of  an  hour.  There  were  various  opinions 
after  the  battle  whether  Shaw  was  not  able  to  beat  any 
man  in  the  world.  Had  he  not  fallen  at  Waterloo, 
it  is  probable  that  he  would  have  attained  the  much- 
coveted  title  of  Champion  of  England. 

Quite  a  number  of  the  old  prize-fighters  were  Jews. 
Of  these  the  most  celebrated  was  Daniel  Mendoza — 
a  shrewd,  good-looking,  and  intelligent  man,  who 
was  one  of  the  most  elegant  and  scientific  boxers 
who  ever  entered  the  ring.  Mendoza  lived  to  the 
great  age  (for  a  prize-fighter)  of  seventy-three. 
Recognised  as  the  father  of  the  ring,  in  1820,  when  he 
was  fifty-seven  years  old,  great  interest  was  at  that 
time  attached  to  his  fight  with  Tom  Owen,  another 
veteran,  who  had  beaten  Hooper,  the  tinman,  some 
twenty-years  before,  after  a  hard  fight  of  fifty  rounds 
lasting  for  more  than  an  hour.  On  this  occasion, 
after  Owen  had  dressed  with  the  utmost  indifference, 
he  walked  out  of  the  ring. 

The  betting  was  in  favour  of  Mendoza,  though  more 
than  fourteen  years  had  passed  since  the  Star  of  the 
East — as  he  was  sometimes  called — had  appeared  in  the 
prize-ring  with  Harry  Lee  (i9th  March,  1806),  and 
more  than  thirty-three  fleeting  summers  (i7th  April, 
1787)  had  occurred  since  Mendoza  first  distinguished 
190 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

himself  as  a  boxer,  with  Martin,  the  Bath  butcher. 
On  9th  January,  1788,  Mendoza  was  defeated  after  a 
most  gallant  fight,  at  Odiham,  by  Humphries ;  but 
on  6th  May,  1789,  Mendoza,  in  turn,  gained  a  victory- 
over  his  opponent,  at  Stilton.  The  third  decisive 
fight  between  Mendoza  and  Humphries  took  place 
on  9th  September,  1790,  at  Doncaster,  when  conquest 
again  crowned  his  exertions.  Bill  Ward  was  twice 
defeated  by  him,  at  Smitham  Bottom,  on  I4th  May, 
1792  ;  also  on  Bexley  Common,  I2th  November,  1794. 
In  this  year  Mendoza  forfeited  a  deposit  of  twenty 
pounds  out  of  a  match  of  fifty  guineas  to  Hooper. 

At  Hornchurch,  I5th  April,  1795,  Mendoza  was 
compelled  to  resign  his  laurels  to  Jackson,  in  ten 
minutes  and  a  half.  At  one  period  of  Mendoza's 
life,  a  finer  subject  for  an  anatomical  lecture,  it  was 
supposed,  did  not  exist  in  England ;  and,  although  a 
short  man,  he  weighed  12  st.  5  Ib. 

The  fight  on  Banstead  Downs  had  originated  from 
an  old  grudge  of  three  years'  standing,  and  at  first  it 
was  proposed  that  the  veterans  should  fight  for 
nothing,  merely  to  ascertain  who  deserved  to  be 
called  the  "  better  man." 

Eventually,  however,  it  was  decided  that  each  side 
should  put  up  fifty  guineas. 

Mendoza  was  fifty-five  years  old,  Owen  fifty-one. 
The  former  was  attended  by  Cribb  and  Hudson — the 
latter  by  Randall  and  Harry  Lee. 

An  enormous  crowd  of  people,  desirous  of  seeing 
the  old  school  at  work,  flocked  to  the  fight,  and  loud 
cheering  greeted  Mendoza,  whose  eye  sparkled  with 
191 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

confidence.  It  was  noticed  that  his  colours — blue 
silk  bird's  eye — were  tied  over  Owen's,  which  were 
yellow.  Notwithstanding  Mendoza's  confident  bear- 
ing— odds  of  two  to  one  were  laid  upon  him — in  the 
first  round  he  was  terribly  punished,  and  utterly  de- 
feated by  the  twelfth ;  Owen,  curiously  enough,  hardly 
sustained  a  scratch.  The  defeated  man  was  much 
affected  at  his  own  downfall ;  as  a  pugilist  he  was  an 
altered  man,  and  showed  none  of  the  fine  science  for 
which  he  had  been  celebrated. 

About  1804  Mendoza,  having  made  a  certain  amount 
of  money  in  the  ring,  determined  to  retire,  and  was 
set  up  by  a  firm  of  brewers  in  the  "  Children  in  the 
Wood,"  in  the  Whitechapel  Road,  which  he  changed 
to  the  "  Lord  Nelson."  Unlike  the  great  admiral, 
however,  Mendoza  was  not  always  at  the  post  of 
duty,  being  more  occupied  with  attending  fights. 
This  led  him  into  financial  difficulties  which  even- 
tually entailed  a  sojourn  in  the  King's  Bench. 

Some  six  years  later,  however,  the  old  fighter 
made  a  more  honourable  public  appearance,  being 
much  commended  for  his  humanity  on  behalf  of  a 
strange  girl,  whose  unfeeling  mother  he  took  before 
the  magistrate ;  a  troublesome  office,  from  which 
the  humanity  of  many  would  have  shrunk. 

Another  famous  Jewish  prize-fighter  was  Dutch 
Sam.  His  fight  with  Nosworthy,  at  Moulsey  Hurst, 
on  Tuesday,  8th  December,  1814,  caused  the  keenest 
excitement,  and  the  unexpected  termination  of  the 
battle  completely  overwhelmed  the  sporting  world 
with  disputes.  So  confident  were  the  knowing  ones 
192 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  all  degrees  upon  the  issue  of  this  fight,  that,  previous 
to  it,  four  to  one  was  to  be  had  from  Duke's  Place  to 
Hyde  Park  Corner.  Nor  was  this  confidence  in  the 
least  diminished  upon  Sam's  entering  the  ring,  but 
rather  increased,  with  loud  and  repeated  offers  to  any 
amount  upon  this  gallant  Jew.  Upon  Sam's  resigning 
the  contest,  a  general  consternation  took  place  among 
his  backers.  If  the  Jews  were  weighed  down  with 
grief,  the  Christians  were  equally  miserable  and  crest- 
fallen. It  was  computed  that  in  different  parts  of 
the  kingdom  one  hundred  thousand  pounds  at  least 
were  lost  upon  the  battle. 

Amongst  Dutch  Sam's  victories  he  beat  Caleb 
Baldwin,  after  a  very  tough  fight.  Tom  Belcher 
Sam  vanquished  three  times.  The  first  battle  was  in 
February,  1806,  at  Moulsey  Hurst,  after  a  severe 
contest  which  lasted  upwards  of  an  hour ;  and  till 
the  last  round  victory  was  doubtful.  On  28th 
July,  1807,  the  "Israelite  Phenomenon"  again  beat 
Tom  in  thirty-four  rounds  —  one  of  the  most 
gallant  matches  that  were  ever  fought.  For  the 
third  and  last  time,  in  consequence  of  a  dispute 
regarding  a  blow  said  to  have  been  foul  in  the 
preceding  battle,  Sam  was  again  victorious,  beat- 
ing his  brave  antagonist  in  thirty-one  rounds,  on 
Lowfield  Common,  Sussex,  on  the  2ist  of  the 
following  August. 

Caleb  Baldwin, 

As  prime  a  bit  of  stuff 
As  e'er  in  Tothill  Fields  was  seen 
Exhibiting  in  buff, 

O  193 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  some  of  his  friends  took  an  active  part  in  the 
Westminster  election. 

When  Westminster  was  fill'd  with  cries 

Of  Burdett !    Maxwell !    Hunt ! 
The  swells  in  power  did  not  despise 

Thy  aid,  but  tipp'd  the  blunt ; 
And  placed  a  band  at  thy  direction 
To  guard  the  freedom  of  election  ! 

Dutch  Sam,  though  one  of  the  greatest  masters 
of  the  "  noble  art,"  once  received  a  most  severe 
drubbing  in  a  casual  encounter  with  a  butcher. 
Passing  in  May,  1805,  over  Wimbledon  Common  on  his 
way  to  town  from  Thames  Ditton,  where  he  was 
training  for  a  fight,  he  met  this  man,  with  whom  he 
became  annoyed,  and  therefore  fastened  a  quarrel 
upon  him.  The  result,  however,  was  exactly  opposite 
to  what  he  expected,  for  the  strength  and  resolution 
of  the  man  of  blood  prevailed  over  the  skill  and 
dexterity  of  Sam,  who  was  every  time  knocked  down 
like  a  bullock.  In  the  hope  of  intimidating  the  butcher, 
he  was  told  during  the  fight  that  he  was  contending 
with  Dutch  Sam.  "Be  he  the  Devil,"  said  the 
butcher,  "  I  will  bang  him  well  now  I  am  at  it "  ; 
and  he  kept  his  word.  In  the  course  of  a  dozen  rounds 
he  so  cut  up  the  Hollander  that  he  could  scarce  see 
or  stand  ;  and  he  was  obliged  to  acknowledge  himself 
beaten,  for  the  first  time  in  his  life.  The  butcher's 
name  was  James  Brown,  a  native  of  Wandsworth, 
who  belonged  to  the  first  company  of  Loyal  Wands- 
worth  Volunteers. 

Less  familiar  than  the  name  of  Dutch  Sam  is  that 
194 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

of  Blascow,  another  Jewish  prize-fighter.  In  April, 
1817,  at  Moulsey  Hurst,  he  behaved  with  great 
chivalry  in  a  fight  with  "  Jack  the  Butcher,"  whom 
he  completely  vanquished  after  a  contest  of  seventeen 
minutes.  During  this  encounter  Blascow  several 
times  showed  himself  a  good  Christian,  by  walking 
away  from  his  opponent  when  favourable  oppor- 
tunities occurred  and  he  might  instantly  have  finished 
the  battle.  This  manly  conduct  was  much  applauded. 
Blascow  had  not  a  mark  about  him. 

Oddly  enough,  none  of  the  best  of  the  old  prize- 
fighters appear  to  have  been  Scotchmen.  Scotland, 
indeed,  notwithstanding  the  strength,  activity,  hardi- 
ness, and  courage  of  her  sons,  has  scarcely  produced  any 
prize  boxer  above  mediocrity.  On  the  other  hand, 
though  the  Scotch  peasantry  seem  to  have  been  rather 
awkward  with  their  fists,  several  Scotch  gentlemen 
have  shown  themselves  the  best  pugilists  of  their 
rank  and  station  that  the  world  has  probably  ever 
seen.  Captain  Barclay  was  generally  allowed  to  be 
the  most  formidable  of  all  amateurs  of  the  noble 
science,  and  Professor  John  Wilson  could  have  been 
little,  if  at  all,  inferior  to  him.  The  Marquis  of 
Tweeddale,  Douglas,  Duke  of  Hamilton,  the  Duke 
of  Richmond  were  all  fine  boxers.  The  latter,  who 
was  a  very  well-built  man,  standing  some  six  feet 
three,  once  nearly  came  to  blows  with  the  Prince 
Regent,  who  in  all  probability  would  have  fared  even 
worse  in  such  a  fistic  encounter  than  he  once  did  with 
Lord  Hertford  after  a  very  wet  evening.  The  Duke 
of  Hamilton,  moreover,  was  also  a  first-rate  cricketer. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

This  nobleman's  death  was  owing,  in  great  measure, 
to  blows  received  from  Big  Ben.  In  sparring  with 
that  tremendous  pugilist,  the  Duke,  who  was  com- 
paratively a  slight-made  man,  told  him  to  strike  out. 
Ben  took  his  Grace  at  his  word,  and  did  hit  out, 
inflicting  several  heavy  body-blows,  from  the  effects 
of  which  the  constitution  of  his  noble  antagonist  never 
recovered. 

In  Scotland  itself  no  prize-fights  of  any  importance 
seem  to  have  taken  place,  though  Gretna  Green, 
on  the  border,  was  the  scene  of  a  fistic  contest  between 
Carter  and  Oliver,  in  October,  1816.  On  this  occasion 
the  famous  blacksmith,  who  was  so  notorious  for 
marrying  runaway  lovers,  was  one  of  the  most  promi- 
nent spectators.  This  was  quite  a  different  sort  of 
match  from  those  which  he  was  in  the  habit  of  attend- 
ing professionally.  As  he  observed  to  a  friend,  he  had 
riveted  the  chains  of  many  couples,  but  had  never 
witnessed  such  hammering  before. 

This  match,  added  he,  differed  materially  from  all 
the  preceding  matches  on  that  spot.  They  began  in 
hugging  and  ended  in  sparring  ;  this  began  in  sparring 
and  ended  with  hugging. 

This  blacksmith  could  be  witty  at  times.  On  one 
occasion  two  couples  presented  themselves  at  Gretna 
Green — one  of  the  would-be  brides  being  sixty  and 
the  other  seventeen.  The  latter  was  anxious  to  have 
the  nuptial  knot  tied,  but  the  matrimonial  Vulcan 
would  not  be  hurried. 

"  There  is  no  need  for  hurry,"  said  he,  "  you 
are  young  and  can  wait  a  little  ;  I  see  your  grand- 
196 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  tf^ays 

mother  is  impatient ;  let  me  put  on  her  fetters 
first." 

Three  "  stars  of  the  ring  "  attended  the  coronation 
of  George  IV,  presumably  in  order  to  check  any  dis- 
turbance. These  were  Cribb,  Richmond,  and  Randall, 
who  moved  about  Westminster  Hall  and  assumed 
a  somewhat  comic  air  of  official  confidence. 

When  the  Daffy  Club  received  the  application 
requiring  the  attendance  of  a  sprinkling  of  knights 
of  the  fist,  a  most  excited  meeting  was  held,  at  which, 
though  order  prevailed,  considerable  warmth  was 
exhibited. 

Cribb,  of  course,  acted  as  chairman,  and  set  forth 
the  important  question  which  the  Club  had  met  to 
consider.  The  champion  was  not  much  of  a  speaker ; 

But  if  the  eloquence  of  tongue  he  miss'd, 
His  was  the  soft  persuasion  of  the  fist, 

and  his  oration  was  listened  to  with  great  respect. 

Richmond,  the  black,  for  his  part  insisted  that  the 
gentlemen  of  colour  should  be  represented ;  and 
Randall  was  equally  anxious  that  he  should  himself 
represent  the  Irish.  Josh  Hudson  at  length  moved 
that  Cribb,  Richmond,  and  Randall  should  be  the 
deputation.  Martin  proposed  his  name  instead  of 
Randall's ;  and  Caleb  Baldwin  and  West  Country 
Dick  wished  to  petition  Lord  Sidmouth  to  permit  a 
turn-up  in  the  Abbey,  Dick  offering  to  accommodate 
any  of  his  lordship's  friends,  or  the  coronation  champion 
himself.  Josh's  motion  was  at  length  carried  by  a 
ruse.  While  several  of  the  members  had  retired  to 
197 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

arrange  about  including  Spring's  name  in  the  list,  the 
remainder  divided. 

For  Cribb,  Richmond,  and  Randall  . .      16 
Against  them  . .          . .          . .      . .      12 

Majority     . .       4 

It  should  be  added  that  during  the  ceremony 
considerable  attention  was  excited  by  the  appearance 
of  Cribb,  who  had  been  equipped  for  the  occasion  in 
a  gorgeous  costume  of  scarlet  with  a  blue  sash. 


198 


VII 


"II/HILST  most  of  the  old  prize-fighters  are 
forgotten,  the  memory  of  honest  Tom  Cribb — 
the  friend  of  Byron  and  Tom  Moore — still  endures. 
Only  recently  we  witnessed  an  admirable  character 
sketch  of  this  hero  in  Sir  Conan  Doyle's  manly 
and  thoroughly  English  melodrama  The  House  of 
Temperley,  which  came  as  a  refreshing  change  from 
the  so-called  problem  plays,  most  of  which  stimulate 
little  but  morbid  fancies. 

The  two  great  fights  of  Cribb's  life  were  with 
Tom  Molineux,  a  Virginian  black,  who  came  to 
England  in  1809.  Molineux  was  what  is  known  as  a 
hurricane  fighter,  and  a  man  of  great  strength  and 
self-confidence.  So  confident,  indeed,  was  he  that  he 
despised  training,  which  no  doubt  greatly  impaired 
his  powers  in  the  ring. 

The  frame  of  this  black  was  perfectly  Herculean. 
The  best  judges  of  anatomical  beauty  considered  his 
bust  a  perfect  picture.  It  was  a  model  for  a  sculptor. 
In  his  early  days  as  a  fighter  he  had  no  aristocratic 
patron  to  back  him,  and  first  became  known  by  peeling 
in  Tothill  Fields  with  the  utmost  sang-froid  to  the 
first  rough  customer  that  showed  fight. 

An  illiterate  man,  Molineux  was  by  disposition 
good-tempered  and  generous,  whilst  fond  of  dress 
199 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  gaiety  to  excess.  He  was  also  amorous  to  the  end 
of  the  chapter.  Unfortunately,  like  most  pugilistic 
heroes,  he  flattered  himself  that  his  constitution 
was  of  so  excellent  a  nature  as  to  be  almost  capable 
of  resisting  the  effects  of  every  kind  of  excess. 

A  fine  fighter,  it  was  said  that  Molineux  only 
wanted  an  "  English  heart "  to  place  him  at  the  top 
of  the  tree,  if  not  to  render  him  completely  invulner- 
able against  any  antagonist  alive  ! 

The  first  battle  between  Cribb  and  Molineux 
took  place  on  i8th  December,  1810,  on  Copthall 
Common,  near  East  Grinstead,  Sussex,  for  two  hundred 
guineas  and  a  subscription  purse  of  one  hundred 
guineas.  Such  was  the  anxiety  as  to  the  result  of 
this  battle  that  the  road  to  the  scene  of  action 
was  thronged  at  an  early  hour  on  the  previous  day, 
insomuch  that  beds  could  not  be  obtained  for  half  the 
number  who  required  them.  At  twelve  o'clock  the 
combatants  met  at  the  appointed  spot.  Molineux 
first  entered  the  ring  with  his  seconds,  Richmond  and 
Jones,  and  some  time  after  Cribb  appeared  with  his 
seconds,  Gully  and  Joe  Ward.  Betting  was  three 
to  one  on  Cribb. 

The  battle,  which  was  won  by  the  latter,  lasted 
fifty-five  minutes,  in  which  forty-four  rounds  took 
place,  and  it  was  all  hard  fighting. 

If  Cribb  had  superior  science,  Molineux  displayed 
equal  courage,  and  his  bottom  at  one  time  caused  the 
betting  to  be  in  his  favour,  as  two  to  one  was  betted 
on  him  in  the  thirtieth  round  of  the  battle. 

The  two  men  were  so  dreadfully  beaten  that  their 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

sight  was  temporarily  lost,  and  their  bodies  were  in 
the  most  battered  state,  from  the  repetition  of 
heavy  blows  constantly  administered.  When  the 
battle  was  decided,  sense  had  left  Molineux,  and  Cribb 
could  not  have  stayed  much  longer,  but  his  gameness 
bore  him  out. 

It  was  a  battle  even  more  sanguinary  than  that 
betwixt  Gully  and  Gregson,  at  Newmarket.  It  was 
all  hitting,  with  two  as  courageous  men  as  ever 
stripped  for  combat.  Molineux  fought  all  at  the 
head,  and  the  champions  were  both  disfigured. 
A  gentleman,  who  stood  near  the  ring,  reckoned 
forty-six  facers,  according  to  the  classical  phraseology 
of  pugilism,  given  by  Cribb  to  his  adversary  ! 

The  string  of  vehicles  from  the  field  of  battle  reached 
six  miles.  During  the  contest,  lords,  nobles,  and 
commoners,  to  the  number  of  ten  thousand,  got  a 
complete  soaking  by  heavy  rain,  which  fell  at  the 
setting-to  of  the  champions,  and  continued  until 
long  after  the  close  of  their  performance.  The  owner 
of  the  turnpike  tolls  near  the  scene  of  action  took  money 
enough  to  pay  the  rent  of  the  gate  for  a  whole  year. 

In  fairness  to  the  memory  of  Molineux  it  should  be 
said  that  he  had  very  hard  luck  during  this  fight, 
and  does  not  appear  to  have  been  accorded  an  entirely 
fair  chance  of  winning. 

The  second  fight  took  place  on  28th  September, 
181 1,  at  Thistleton  Gap,  in  the  parish  of  Wymondham, 
Leicester,  near  Crown  Point,  where  Lincolnshire, 
Leicestershire,  and  Rutlandshire  join.  This  fight  was 
for  £300  a  side. 

201 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Directly  the  place  appointed  was  known,  amateurs 
in  great  number  began  to  crowd  to  the  spot.  Not  a 
bed  could  be  had  within  twenty  miles  of  the  seat  of 
action  on  the  night  previous  to  the  fight.  As  soon  as 
dawn  appeared  on  the  Saturday  the  spectators  were 
on  the  move  in  the  direction  of  the  scene  of  action, 
and  by  six  o'clock  scarcely  standing  room  could  be 
procured  within  any  reasonable  distance  of  the  stage. 
The  crowd  kept  increasing  until  about  half-past 
eleven,  when,  it  was  calculated,  upwards  of  fifteen 
thousand  people  occupied  the  ground,  one-fourth  of 
them  consisting  of  nobility  and  gentry.  The  field 
chosen  was  a  stubble  ground,  on  which  a  twenty-five- 
feet  stage  was  erected  without  the  slightest  in- 
terruption. 

Before  twelve  o'clock  the  appearance  of  the  field 
where  the  stage  was  erected  was  of  the  most  unusual 
and  interesting  description  ;  several  rows  of  people 
on  foot  surrounded  the  large  rope  ring,  behind  which 
were  innumerable  horsemen,  mingled  with  every 
species  of  carriage,  from  the  chariot  to  the  dust-cart. 
The  backs,  boxes,  wheels,  and  roofs  of  these  actually 
swarmed  with  spectators,  and  few  of  the  horsemen 
were  content  to  sit  on  their  saddles ;  most  of  them 
stood,  circus  fashion,  a  proceeding,  in  this  instance, 
attended  with  but  little  danger,  for  the  living  mass 
was  so  closely  wedged  that,  when  once  fixed,  there 
was  no  moving.  The  assemblage  of  sporting  characters, 
from  the  peer  on  the  coach-box  to  the  more  gentle- 
manly-looking pickpocket,  was  very  complete.  All 
the  fighting  men  and  fighting  amateurs  were  there 

202 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

anxious  to  witness  what  it  was  understood  was  to  be 
an  historic  fray. 

Shortly  before  twelve  o'clock  the  excitement  of 
the  immense  crowd  was  further  increased  by  the 
appearance  on  the  stage  of  the  seconds  and  bottle- 
holders.  Gully  and  Joe  Ward  attended  to  assist 
Cribb ;  Richmond,  the  black,  and  Bill  Gibbons 
assisted  Molineux.  They  stripped  and  put  on 
jackets  in  preparation  for  their  principals.  About 
twelve  Molineux  appeared  within  the  ropes,  but  his 
alert  antagonist  was  the  first  to  spring  on  the 
stage,  which  he  did  with  great  gaiety,  and  made  his 
obeisances  to  the  spectators  amidst  shouts  of  applause 
which  caused  the  air  to  ring.  Molineux  followed,  and 
actively  jumped  over  the  ropes ;  he  also  made  his 
bow,  and  was  greeted  with  cheering  which,  if  not 
quite  so  hearty  as  that  accorded  to  his  opponent,  was 
yet  sufficient  to  show  that  he  had  many  friends, 
for  love  or  money,  among  those  present.  Cribb  was 
well  dressed,  in  a  brown  great-coat,  and  boots — and 
his  appearance  altogether  was  very  respectable.  He 
seemed  to  stand  about  six  feet  high,  looked  smiling 
and  confident,  and  appeared  in  high  condition. 
Molineux  was  not  so  tall  as  his  opponent,  but  yet  a 
finely-built  man — broad  and  brawny — capacious  of 
chest — and  with  arms  formed  for  hammering.  He 
eyed  Cribb  with  a  vengeful,  sulky  look,  and  seemed 
bent  on  doing  desperate  things. 

The  preparation  of  the  two  antagonists  had  been 
widely  different — the  one  careful,  the  other  reckless. 

On  the  morning  of  the  fight  Molineux,  who  despised 
203 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

all  training,  bolted  a  boiled  fowl,  an  apple  pie,  and  a 
tankard  of  beer  for  breakfast ;  viands  by  no  means 
the  most  proper  for  the  occasion.  Cribb,  on  the 
other  hand,  restricted  himself  to  two  slightly  boiled 
eggs. 

The  first  four  rounds  were  contested  with  furious 
and  unequalled  desperation.  Cribb's  hits  were  in- 
supportable to  the  hardest  frame,  and  certainly 
had  the  black  possessed  more  courage  than  it  is 
possible  for  man  to  be  gifted  with,  he  could  not  have 
withstood  such  murderous  blows. 

Before  the  fight  the  odds  were  about  three  to  one 
on  Cribb,  and  six  to  four  that  he  gave  the  first  knock- 
down blow.  This  he  did  in  the  first  round,  though 
the  knock  down  was  not  clean.  In  the  second  round, 
which  was  fierce,  Cribb  was  thrown,  and  the  odds  on 
him  fell  to  five  to  two  on.  Cribb  was  again  thrown 
in  the  third  round,  but  remained  favourite,  seven  to 
four  being  still  laid  upon  him.  The  sixth  round,  how- 
ever, in  which  the  black  showed  fatigue  and  hit  very 
wildly,  ended  by  Cribb  flooring  his  opponent  in  such 
a  manner  that  five  to  one  was  offered  upon  him. 

The  remaining  rounds  were  entirely  in  Cribb's 
favour,  and  there  was  no  betting,  Molineux  being 
obviously  beaten. 

When  all  was  over  Cribb's  second,  Gully,  was  so 
delighted  that  he  danced  a  reel. 

Cribb's   countenance  was  so  shockingly   disfigured 

that  a  report  at  first  prevailed  that  he  was  blind, 

but  his  sight  was  not  affected,  although  he  was  a 

good  deal  punished.     On  the  other  hand,  he  had 

204 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

received  no  body  hit — being  scarcely  touched  except 
on  the  face.  On  being  joked  with  after  the  fight, 
about  his  captivating  appearance,  he  observed  that 
he  would  sooner  go  through  another  such  fight  than 
undergo  a  course  of  training  up  in  the  Highlands  of 
Scotland,  with  his  patron  and  trainer,  Captain 
Barclay,  who,  it  should  be  added,  was  supposed  to  have 
won  .£10,000  on  the  battle.  Cribb,  who  was  said  to 
have  benefited  to  the  extent  of  £400,  solemnly 
declared  that  nothing  should  ever  tempt  him  to 
fight  again,  and,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  this  was  the 
last  public  prize-fight  in  which  he  took  part. 

At  the  time  of  the  fight  he  was  a  coal-dealer, 
carrying  on  business  in  White  Lion  Square. 

A  bet  of  a  rather  singular  kind  was  made  between 
two  gentlemen  of  Portsmouth,  depending  upon  the 
battle  between  Cribb  and  Molineux.  The  winner, 
by  the  terms  of  his  bet,  got  a  complete  suit  of 
clothes,  including  every  article  that  could  be  under- 
stood as  coming  within  the  meaning  of  the  wager, 
including  a  good  walking-stick,  gloves,  and  a  guinea 
in  his  pocket. 

A  baker  in  the  Borough  staked  the  whole  of  his 
personal  property,  together  with  the  lease  of  his 
house  (amounting  to  £1700),  on  the  result  of  the 
fight  being  favourable  to  Cribb. 

The  friends  and  patrons  of  Cribb  presented  the 
champion  with  a  piece  of  plate  in  honour  of  his 
victories.  This  took  the  form  of  a  very  handsome 
silver  cup,  valued  at  eighty  guineas,  on  which  were 
engraved  the  arms  designed  for  the  redoubtable 
205 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

prize-fighter  by  Mr.  Emery,  the  cup  itself  being 
supported  by  a  kneeling  black  designed  to  represent 
Molineux.  The  arms  in  question  were  as  follows : 

The  CREST — The  Bristol  Arms,  the  place  of 
Cribb's  nativity. 

In  the  First  Quarter,  the  British  Lion  is  looking 
down  with  stern  regard  on  the  American  Flag, 
half-mast  high  (in  the  Fourth  Quarter),  the  Beaver, 
symbolic  of  the  latter  country,  hiding  his  head 
under  its  folds,  alluding  to  Molineux's  defeat. 

In  the  Second  Quarter,  the  combatants  are 
setting-to. 

And  in  the  Third  Quarter  Cribb  is  shown  in 
his  coal  barge,  illustrative  of  his  trade. 

The  SUPPORTERS  represent  the  champion  look- 
ing with  an  eye  of  commiseration  on  his  vanquished 
opponent. 

MOTTO — "  And  damn'd  be  him  who  first  cries, 
Hold!  enough!" 

The  cup  was  presented  to  Cribb  after  a  dinner  at 
Gregson's,  the  Castle  Tavern,  Mr.  Emery  making  a 
speech,  to  which  the  champion  responded.  Mr. 
Emery  also  sang  a  song  composed  by  Mr.  Lawson  in 
honour  of  the  heroes  of  the  ring. 

The  title  of  Champion  of  England,  it  should  be 
added,  had  been  won  by  Cribb  in  1809,  when  he  had 
fought  Jem  Belcher  on  Epsom  Downs  for  a  belt  and 
two  hundred  guineas. 

Cribb,  though  he  lived  to  the  age  of  sixty-seven, 
does  not  appear  to  have  been  an  extraordinarily 
206 


-  II 
«<>  e 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

healthy  man.  When  still  in  his  prime  he  was  once, 
whilst  in  conversation  with  Belcher  at  the  Castle 
Tavern,  Holborn,  suddenly  attacked  by  a  sort  of 
apoplectic  fit,  and  dropped  his  head  upon  a  table 
near  him.  During  this  seizure  his  tongue  hung 
out,  his  eyes  had  a  fixed  stare,  and  he  appeared 
totally  insensible  to  all  around  him.  Belcher,  much 
alarmed,  instantly  took  off  his  neckerchief,  opened 
his  waistcoat  and  shirt  collar,  and  sluiced  his 
face  with  cold  water,  loudly  calling  out,  "  Time — 
time !  "  This  expedient  had  the  desired  effect, 
and  the  champion  immediately  rose  up  as  if  in  the 
ring,  speaking  rather  indistinctly,  "  I  am  ready  !  " 
but  looking  confusedly  around  him,  and  again  re- 
lapsing into  his  former  state  of  stupor.  Painter  now 
assisted  Belcher  in  shaking  Cribb  about,  in  order  to 
restore  animation ;  and  after  the  application  of 
more  cold  water  to  his  face,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
minutes  they  happily  succeeded  in  restoring  the 
champion  to  the  possession  of  himself. 

Cribb's  farewell  to  the  prize-ring  took  place  on 
1 8th  May,  1822 ;  his  last  bow  was  made  at  the  Fives 
Court.  A  host  of  Corinthians  were  present,  and 
applauded  some  excellent  bouts  which  took  place 
before  the  Champion  of  England  ascended  the  stage 
with  Spring.  Cribb  was  decorated  with  the  belt, 
in  the  front  of  which  were  a  couple  of  silver  fists, 
and  on  each  side  were  two  large  circles  of  silver 
plate,  with  inscriptions  engraved  on  them.  The  belt 
was  about  four  inches  wide,  and  made  of  fawn  skin. 
Cribb  and  Spring  then  set-to  and  gave  a  good  display, 
207 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Jf^ays 

in  spite  of  the  former  having  a  touch  of  the  gout. 
The  moment  for  the  farewell  then  arrived. 

Struggling  with  his  feelings  and  scratching  his  head 
in  confusion  what  to  say,  Tom  at  length  said,  "  Gentle- 
men, I  return  you  thanks  for  your  kindness  this  day. 
(A  short  pause,  and  confused.)  Indeed,  gentlemen,  I 
sincerely  thank  you  for  all  the  favours  you  have  con- 
ferred on  me — I  do,  indeed.  (A  long  pause,  and  as 
if  Tom  could  not  get  out  his  words.)  Gentlemen,  may 
your  purses  never  fail  you."  Cribb  now  retired, 
amidst  long  and  loud  plaudits,  accompanied  by  "  It 
will  be  a  long  time  before  we  shall  look  upon  your 
like  again  in  the  prize-ring." 

Cribb's  latter  days  were  not  very  prosperous.  After 
having  been  the  landlord  of  several  public-houses,  he 
went  to  live  with  his  son,  a  baker,  at  Woolwich, 
where  he  died,  in  1848.  A  fine  monument — a  lion 
standing  on  a  rock — perpetuates  the  champion's 
memory  in  Woolwich  churchyard.  On  the  plinth  is 
inscribed,  "  Respect  the  ashes  of  the  brave."  It  is 
pleasant  to  think  that  this  honest  fighter  is  not  likely 
to  be  forgotten. 

The  fate  of  Molineux  was  rather  sad.  Some 
months  after  the  great  fight  at  Thistleton  Gap,  while 
in  the  Isle  of  Wight,  he  challenged  Cribb,  by  letter, 
to  fight  a  third  time,  or  resign  the  title  of  Champion 
of  England  to  him.  The  letter  was  briefly  answered 
by  Cribb,  who  said  that  he  had  had  no  intention  of 
fighting  again,  until  the  receipt  of  Molineux's  letter, 
but,  under  the  circumstances,  would  fight  him  for 
three  hundred  guineas  a  side,  at  a  day's  notice  ;  and, 
208 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

if  that  would  not  satisfy  him,  would  fight  him  once  a 
week  until  he  should  be  satisfied.  This  answer 
immediately  silenced  the  negro. 

Molineux  received  his  final  knock-down  blow  at 
Galway,  in  1818.  The  sunshine  of  prosperity  had  long 
since  forsaken  him  ;  and  it  was  owing  to  the  humanity 
and  attendance  of  three  people  of  colour  that  he 
was  indebted  for  his  existence  the  last  two  months  of 
his  life.  He  died  in  a  room  occupied  by  the  bandsmen 
of  the  77th  Regiment,  who  had  provided  a  resting- 
place  for  him  to  lay  his  enfeebled  frame. 

In  the  last  four  years  of  his  life  he  had  been  strolling 
about  the  country,  teaching  the  art  of  self-defence. 
Molineux  was  only  thirty-eight  years  old  when  he 
died.  Dissipation  alone  put  an  end  to  his  existence ; 
and  for  a  long  time  previous  to  his  death  he  was 
literally  a  walking  skeleton. 

Cribb's  successor  in  the  championship  was  Tom 
Spring,  whose  real  name  was  Winter,  one  of  the 
noblest  and  most  generous-hearted  men  who  ever 
achieved  fame  in  the  pugilistic  arena.  At  eighteen 
years  of  age  this  fine  boxer  was  described  as  recalling 
the  statue  of  a  Roman  gladiator  or  an  Athenian 
wrestler  in  the  fine  determination  depicted  upon  his 
countenance,  which  resembled  that  of  Captain  Parry, 
the  hero  of  Arctic  exploration.  Nature,  indeed,  seemed 
to  have  meted  out  to  these  two  men  a  full  measure 
of  determination  and  courage,  the  indication  of 
which  she  stamped  upon  their  brows. 

Before  Spring  went  up  to  London,  every  market  day 
he  drove  his  cart  into  Hereford,  and  generally  finished 
p  209 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  day  by  thrashing  some  booby,  which  gave  him 
considerable  provincial  notoriety. 

At  Mordiford,  near  Fownhope,  Spring  fought  an 
excellent  battle  with  a  sturdy  yokel,  and  beat  him 
in  very  good  style.  At  Hereford,  also,  he  fought 
several  times.  It  was  on  one  of  these  occasions  that 
he  came  under  the  cognisance  of  Tom  Cribb  ;  to  this 
redoubtable  pillar  of  pugilism  Spring  owed  his  intro- 
duction to  the  London  ring,  as  also  much  improve- 
ment in  the  general  tactics  of  the  noble  art. 

When  the  Duke  of  Newcastle  lived  near  Fownhope, 
Spring  used  frequently  to  be  sent  for  in  order  to  spar 
before  the  Duke's  guests.  The  young  boxer  was  a 
prime  favourite  with  the  Duke,  who  would  often 
clap  him  on  the  back  and  praise  his  skill.  Pointing 
to  some  of  the  finest  oaks  in  his  park  one  day,  he  said, 
"  Winter,  I  would  spare  a  few  of  these  sticks  to 
possess  such  limbs  as  yours,  or  do  what  you  can  do." 

Spring  made  his  first  bow  to  the  London  public 
in  the  palmy  days  of  pugilism.  Love  of  glory,  perhaps, 
more  than  a  desire  for  wealth,  prompted  him  to  adopt 
the  ring  as  a  profession,  for  it  must  be  remembered 
that  he  left  a  good  and  thriving  business  to  follow 
after  comparatively  doubtful  promises. 

At  the  time  when  Spring  made  his  first  public 
appearance  at  the  Fives  Court,  Richmond,  the  black, 
pointed  him  out  expressly  to  a  nobleman,  at  the  same 
time  saying,  "  My  lord,  here  is  a  young  fellow  come 
up  among  us,  a  pal  of  Tom  Cribb's,  who  will  be  a 
teaser  among  the  big  'uns  at  some  day  not  far  off. 
You  may  be  sure  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  his  reaching 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  top  of  the  tree."  Jack  Carter,  who  at  that  time 
aspired  to  the  championship  also,  thought  him 
worth  threatening.  Consequently  he  soon  took  an 
opportunity  to  say,  within  Spring's  hearing,  "  that 
he  didn't  care  a  hang  for  the  biggest  butcher  in 
England,  be  he  who  he  might,  or  come  from  where  he 
would."  This  threat  was  some  time  after  followed 
by  a  battle,  which  terminated  in  favour  of  Spring, 
Jack  Carter,  who  was  a  very  bullying  fellow,  having 
got  more  than  he  bargained  for. 

In  private  life  Spring  seems  to  have  been  a  kind 
and  honourable  man.  A  supporter  of  the  Hereford- 
shire Society  for  Educating  and  Supporting  Orphan 
Children,  he  never  failed  to  make  a  "  neat  speech " 
at  the  annual  dinner  held  in  connection  with  this 
charity.  Immensely  popular  when  on  his  sparring 
tours,  if  he  happened  to  stop  for  any  "  little  length  " 
of  time  on  the  road,  the  inn  was  immediately  besieged 
by  a  crowd  of  enthusiastic  admirers. 

At  a  fight  in  Herefordshire  between  Powell  and  Parry 
a  remarkable  ovation  was  accorded  to  Spring.  There 
were  about  eight  thousand  persons  collected ;  and 
when  he  walked  into  the  arena,  and  ascended  a 
wagon,  where  he  sat  during  the  fight  taking  notes, 
the  cheering  was  absolutely  deafening,  varied  at 
intervals  by  such  cries  as,  "  The  noble  Spring !  " 
"  Tom  Spring  for  ever  !  "  "  Spring  and  old  cider  !  " 
He  might  have  led  the  whole  crowd  down  the  crater 
of  a  volcano. 

On  this  occasion  Spring  exhibited  two  proofs  of 
his  manly  and  straightforward  disposition.  Previous 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  the  fight  his  sympathies  had  been  enlisted  for 
Powell ;  he  was  too  big  a  man  to  second  the  latter, 
but  it  was  understood  that  he  wished  him  success, 
which  alone  was  considered  an  asset  by  Powell's 
supporters,  who,  knowing  that  their  man  was  lighter 
than  his  opponent,  and  leaned  back  a  good  deal  when 
fighting,  contrived,  with  the  assistance  of  M'Jubb, 
of  Cheltenham,  who  was  to  act  as  second,  to  have  the 
stakes  placed  in  the  ground  in  an  inverted  position, 
slanting  outwards,  which  virtually  made  the  ring 
more  than  twenty-four  feet.  When  the  combatants 
were  on  the  ground,  and  just  before  the  moment  of 
commencing,  Spring  walked  up,  and  noticing  the  ropes 
and  stakes  used  in  this  unpugilistic  manner,  he, 
notwithstanding  a  word  in  the  ear  from  M'Jubb, 
immediately  ordered  all  the  stakes  to  be  pulled  up  and 
placed  in  their  proper  upright  direction  in  the  ground, 
at  the  same  time  very  properly  inveighing  against  the 
unfairness  of  such  a  proceeding. 

The  second  instance  was  even  more  characteristic 
of  his  chivalrous  nature. 

After  the  fight  was  over,  Spring  left  the  ground  in 
a  gig  with  his  brother,  and,  as  he  was  driving  along, 
saw  two  men  fighting  in  a  meadow  by  the  roadside. 
A  glance  at  the  combatants  convinced  him  that  the 
pair  were  very  unequally  matched,  the  one  being  a 
small  man,  and  supported  only  by  one  solitary  second, 
while  his  opponent,  a  big  bullying  fellow,  was  assisted 
by  a  host  of  uproarious  friends.  "  This  won't  do, 
and  shan't  do,"  said  Spring  coolly ;  and  immediately 
jumping  from  his  vehicle,  made  for  the  spot. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Here  he  found  the  little  fellow,  who  was  thoroughly- 
game  to  the  backbone,  terribly  beat  about  and  abused, 
not  only  by  his  antagonist,  but  also  by  the  seconds. 
Spring  arrived  just  as  the  men  stood  up  to  fight 
their  ninth  or  tenth  round,  and,  immediately  ex- 
tending his  arm,  kept  at  bay  the  host  that  had  before 
impeded  the  little  trump.  At  first  he  appeared  likely 
to  meet  with  some  rough  treatment,  as  no  doubt  any 
other  man  would  ;  but  it  happened  that  one  of  the 
party  recognised  him,  and  straightway  the  effect  was 
magical.  The  bullies  were  frightened  out  of  their 
five  senses,  the  fighting  man  was  absolutely  paralysed, 
and  the  little  fellow  not  only  rallied  and  beat  his  savage 
and  cowardly  opponent  to  his  heart's  content,  but 
his  solitary  second  also  took  courage,  and  beat  two 
of  the  other  party  in  most  correct  style.  Spring 
returned  to  his  gig,  after  much  applauding  the  little 
fighter,  and,  giving  him  some  money,  quietly  pro- 
ceeded on  his  journey. 

During  a  sparring  tour  in  Wales,  when  he  used  to 
box  with  Langan,  the  good  temper  of  both  men 
was  shown  on  two  occasions. 

A  provincial  fighter,  of  no  mean  celebrity,  had 
openly  asserted  that  he  was  not  at  all  afraid  of  Spring, 
and  would  at  any  time  have  a  sparring  bout  in  good 
earnest  with  the  champion,  and  take  all  even  bets 
that  he  had  the  best  of  it.  Spring  was  told  that  this 
boasting  had  circulated  wide,  and,  immediately  on 
his  arrival  in  the  enemy's  country,  sent  a  polite 
message  requesting  the  pleasure  of  his  company. 
The  fellow,  nothing  daunted,  came ;  and,  putting 
213 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

on  the  gloves,  commenced  milling  in  no  very  measured 
way.  It  took  place  in  a  large  room,  and  Spring's 
coolness  and  tact  were  admirably  clever.  At  first  he 
retreated  before  every  blow  of  his  antagonist  until 
he  got  close  to  the  wall,  and  then,  launching  out,  he 
hit  the  countryman  back  every  step  he  had  come, 
to  the  no  small  amusement  of  the  spectators.  At 
length,  with  a  good-natured  smile,  he  knocked  him 
completely  up  to  the  wall  at  the  farther  end  of  the 
room.  The  booby,  bleeding  at  the  nose,  ears,  and 
mouth,  looked  as  discomfited  as  a  dying  fish. 

Not  very  long  after  a  hot-tempered  Welshman  put 
on  the  gloves  with  Jack  Langan,  and  in  the  middle 
of  a  bout  Langan  happened  to  slip  down ;  the 
Welshman  fell  to  belabouring  Jack's  back,  which  only 
caused  Langan  to  burst  into  peals  of  laughter. 

Spring  was  a  humane  man.  Travelling  on  the 
box  seat  of  the  Birmingham  "  Sovereign  "  coach  on  a 
terribly  cold  and  frosty  day,  immediately  behind 
him  sat  a  poor  woman  with  an  infant  child  in  her 
arms,  almost  starved  with  the  cold.  The  mother 
implored  the  coachman  to  put  the  child  inside, 
but  he  replied  that  four  gentlemen  were  there,  who 
would  by  no  means  admit  a  baby  cold  and  wet,  as 
it  then  was,  into  their  presence.  Spring  threw 
a  coat  over  the  mother  and  child ;  and  when  the 
coach  stopped  at  the  end  of  the  stage,  only  two  miles 
more,  he  got  down,  and  taking  the  child  in  his  arms, 
presented  himself  at  the  coach  door,  while  coachee 
was  boozing  in  the  tap.  He  begged  and  prayed  in 
vain.  The  child  was  "  beastly  wet,"  as  the  insides 
214 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  TVays 

expressed  it,  and  in  it  should  not  come.  "  My  name 
is  Spring,"  returned  he  ;  "  perhaps  you  may  have 
heard  of  me.  I  do  verily  believe  that  the  child  will 
perish  if  longer  exposed  to  the  cold."  "  Hurrah, 
Tom  !  "  exclaimed  a  voice  waking  out  of  the  corner, 
aroused  by  the  talismanic  name.  "  My  old  fellow, 
how  are  you  ?  Ever  engaged  in  the  cause  of  humanity  ! 
Give  me  the  child  here."  The  business  was  soon 
settled.  The  young  man,  who,  it  seems,  knew  Tom 
well,  spread  his  great-coat  on  his  knees,  and,  therein 
ensconced,  the  little  urchin  slept  securely  through  a 
long  journey.  The  good-hearted  pugilist  then  wrapped 
up  in  his  own  coat  the  poor  mother  outside,  and, 
having  given  her  something  warm  to  drink,  left 
her  comfortable  and  happy. 

On  another  occasion,  Spring  was  sitting  by  the 
side  of  a  coachman,  a  noted  blackguard,  who  was 
famed  for  plying  his  whip  on  every  living  thing  he 
met  or  passed,  and  often  occasioning  much  damage, 
for  which  he  was  sometimes  hauled  up.  In  this  way 
he  set  out,  but  ere  long  Spring  hinted  to  the  un- 
coachmanlike  Jehu  that  this  extra  cutting  was  very 
unnecessary,  and  might  far  better  be  dispensed  with, 
on  which,  for  that  journey,  the  whip  was  most  un- 
usually idle. 

In  1824  a  great  battle  for  ^1000  was  brought  off 
between  Spring  and  Langan,  champions  of  England 
and  Ireland,  near  Man  Wood,  in  Sussex,  about  three 
miles  from  Chichester. 

This  contest,  which  excited  great  interest,  was  at 
first  arranged  to  take  place  at  Warwick  race-course  ; 
215 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

but  interference  being  threatened,  Pierce  Egan,  in 
connection  with  Gentleman  Jackson,  settled  on  a  spot 
near  Chichester,  to  which  town  the  former  went  to 
superintend  the  necessary  arrangements.  The  land- 
lord of  the  Swan  Inn  there  had  offered  £200  upon 
condition  that  the  fight  took  place  near  the  town. 
Pierce  Egan  arranged  matters  with  him,  and  a  large 
ploughed  field  was  chosen  as  the  scene  of  the  fight ; 
one  side  of  the  field  was  bordered  by  the  canal,  and  it 
was  only  approachable  from  the  town  by  means  of 
a  drawbridge,  over  which  all  the  passengers,  horse  or 
foot,  must  pass.  It  was  here  that  the  toll,  intended  to 
be  imposed  on  all  comers,  with  a  view  to  reim- 
bursing the  sum  promised  to  the  men,  was  to  be 
collected.  The  name  of  the  bridge  is  Birkham 
Bridge,  and  from  the  sums  extracted  from  the 
passengers,  it  was  for  some  time  called  the  "  double 
drawbridge." 

The  farmers  in  the  neighbourhood  volunteered 
their  wagons  to  form  the  outer  ring ;  and  in  the 
course  of  the  Monday  fifty-three  of  the  largest 
wagons  were  drawn  into  the  field  and  arranged  in  a 
circle  of  immense  magnitude.  The  stage  erected  was 
twenty-four  feet  square,  and  six  feet  from  the  ground  ; 
the  floor,  deal  planks,  three  inches  thick.  Round  the 
stage  was  erected  a  succession  of  substantial  posts, 
to  which  three  rails  in  a  horizontal  position  were 
attached,  so  as  to  render  it  unlikely  that  the  men  could 
fall  from  their  elevated  situation.  Everything  uneven 
upon  the  surface  of  the  boards  was  removed,  and  the 
edges  of  all  the  posts  and  rails  were  rounded,  so  as  to 
216 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

counteract,  as  much  as  possible,  the  effects  of  the 
falls  which  might  be  given  to  either  party. 

While  the  mechanical  operations  were  thus  going  on 
at  Birkham  Bridge,  the  town  of  Chichester  presented 
an  extraordinary  appearance  of  excitement.  Being 
Whit  Monday,  it  was  a  sort  of  jubilee  in  the  town, 
in  which  the  whole  population  appeared  to  be  en- 
gaged. 

The  next  day  a  crowd  of  about  twelve  thousand 
people  were  computed  to  be  present  as  early  as  half- 
past  eleven  in  the  morning.  The  grand  stand  from 
Epsom  race-course  had  been  bought  for  the  occasion 
by  Jack  Martin.  Beyond  this  and  other  stands  were 
ranged  rows  of  carriages  and  post-chaises,  and,  in 
fact,  every  place  in  which  vehicles  could  be  stationed 
was  filled.  Between  the  wagons  and  the  stage  there 
was  an  inner  ring,  formed  of  a  strong  cable,  and 
outside  of  this  the  great  majority  of  the  spectators 
on  foot  were  kept,  so  that  an  excellent  view  was  thus 
secured  to  all.  A  guinea  a  head  was  charged  for  the 
grand  stand,  and  five  shillings  for  the  wagons. 

Soon  after  twelve  o'clock  Tom  Cribb  and  Painter, 
with  Belcher  and  O'Neil,  the  seconds,  entered  the 
ring.  They  mounted  the  stage,  which  had  been 
duly  chalked;  Gentleman  Jackson,  accompanied  by 
Lord  Uxbridge,  Colonel  Berkeley,  and  several  other 
aristocratic  patrons  of  boxing,  shortly  afterwards 
made  their  appearance.  Jackson  then  read  the  articles 
of  the  fight,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to  appear. 

A  few  minutes  before  one  o'clock  Spring,  arm  in 
arm  with  his  backer  and  a  sporting  baronet,  made 
217 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

his  way  through  the  crowd  towards  the  stage,  and 
was  received  with  loud  huzzas,  Cribb  and  Painter  close 
behind  him.  Spring  threw  up  his  hat,  which  alighted 
upon  the  stage.  He  then  ascended  the  ladder,  and 
jumped  over  the  ropes. 

Langan  immediately  followed,  under  the  patronage 
of  Colonel  O'Neil.  Like  Spring  he  was  cheered. 
Belcher,  Harmer,  and  O'Neil,  his  bottle-holder,  were 
in  attendance.  The  Irish  champion  ascended  the 
stage,  and  in  a  very  modest  manner  dropped  his  hat 
upon  it.  He  was  perfectly  prepared  for  action  ;  but 
everything  not  being  ready,  he  walked  up  and  down 
the  boards  with  the  utmost  composure. 

All  preparations  completed,  the  colours  (dark  blue 
with  a  bird's  eye  for  Spring,  and  black  for  Langan) 
tied  to  the  stage,  and  Gentleman  Jackson  having 
arranged  the  spectators  round  the  ring  in  an  orderly 
and  comfortable  manner,  the  battle  commenced. 
Betting,  two  to  one  and  five  to  two  on  Spring. 

Previous  to  setting-to,  Langan  went  up  to  Spring, 
opening  his  drawers,  and  observed,  "  See,  Tom,  I 
have  no  belt  about  me."  The  champion  immediately 
followed  his  example,  and  said  (also  opening  his 
drawers),  "  Nor  I  either,  Jack  !  "  This  circumstance 
produced  great  applause  from  all  parts  of  the  ring. 

The  fight  lasted  for  one  hour  and  forty-nine 
minutes,  and  all  through  it  was  evident  that  Spring 
would  prove  the  victor. 

At  the  seventy-first  round  the  spectators  in  general, 
on  the  score  of  humanity,  called  out  that  Langan 
ought  not  to  be  allowed  to  go  on  fighting,  but  the 
218 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

latter  absolutely  refused  to  yield.  As  a  matter  of 
fact,  owing  to  Spring's  hands  being  dreadfully 
swollen,  his  opponent,  as  was  pointed  out,  could  not 
now  be  dangerously  hurt.  Nevertheless,  any  success 
for  the  Irishman  was  obviously  hopeless — still  he 
kept  on. 

The  seventy-fourth  round  in  particular  exhibited 
his  iron  resolution.  Langan  had  not  then  a  shadow 
of  a  chance  ;  his  limbs  were  fatigued  and  would  not 
do  their  duty.  Nevertheless,  in  spite  of  all  these 
overwhelming  difficulties,  the  brave  fellow  came 
again  to  the  scratch,  and  with  efforts  of  true  courage 
fought  till  he  was  again  knocked  down.  While  sitting 
on  the  knee  of  his  second,  Cribb  thus  addressed  him : 
"  You  are  a  brave  man,  Langan  !  "  "A  better  was 
never  seen  in  the  prize-ring,"  rejoined  Painter  ;  "  but 
you  can't  win,  Langan.  It  is  no  use  for  you  to  fight, 
and  it  may  prove  dangerous  to  you."  "  I  will  fight," 
said  Langan  ;  "  no  one  shall  take  me  away  !  " 

In  the  seventy-sixth  and  last  round  Langan  was 
nearly  insensible,  and  fought,  as  it  seemed,  merely  from 
instinct. 

To  the  credit  of  Spring  be  it  recorded,  he  did  his 
duty  towards  his  backers  as  a  fighting  man,  whilst 
acting  humanely  towards  an  opponent. 

Langan  put  up  his  arms  in  sparring  attitude ; 
but  they  were  soon  regdered  useless,  Spring  fibbing 
him  down  without  giving  much  punishment.  When 
time  was  called  Langan  was  insensible. 

The  hat  was  now  thrown  up,  and  Spring  declared 
the  conqueror.  After  being  congratulated,  the  gallant 
219 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

champion  went  up  to  Langan  and  laid  hold  of  his 
hand.  The  Irishman  had  not  yet  recovered,  but, 
on  opening  his  eyes,  he  asked,  in  a  faint  tone,  "  Is 
the  battle  over  ?  "  "  Yes,"  replied  Belcher.  "  Oh, 
dear !  "  articulated  Langan.  Spring  immediately 
shook  his  hand  again,  and  said,  "  Jack,  you  and  I 
must  be  friends  to  the  end  of  our  lives ;  and  any- 
thing that  is  within  my  power  I  will  do  to  serve  you." 

Spring  then  left  the  stage  with  his  friends,  to  go 
to  the  Swan  Hotel,  Chichester.  He  was  received 
with  shouts  by  the  populace  all  along  the  road,  the 
ladies  waving  their  handkerchiefs  at  the  windows  as 
he  passed  along.  Langan,  as  soon  as  he  had  recovered 
a  little  from  the  effects  of  the  battle,  left  the  stage, 
amidst  very  loud  tokens  of  approbation.  The  Irish 
champion,  accompanied  by  Belcher  and  his  backer, 
also  received  great  applause  on  his  return  to  the 
Dolphin  Inn,  at  Chichester. 

It  is  a  curious  coincidence  that  on  Whitsun  Tuesday 
in  1823  Spring  defeated  Neat,  near  Andover,  and  on 
Whitsun  Tuesday  in  1824  he  overcame  the  brave 
Langan.  Spring,  therefore,  won  three  battles  in 
one  twelvemonth. 

The  champion  left  Chichester  at  eight  o'clock  on 
Wednesday  morning,  in  an  open  barouche,  accom- 
panied by  Mr.  Sant.  He  was  cheered  out  of  the  town 
by  the  populace. 

So  fine  a  character  does  Spring  appear  to  have  been 
that  one  almost  regrets  his  connection  with  prize- 
fighting. Nevertheless,  he  himself  was  satisfied 
that  he  was  fulfilling  a  high  destiny.  He  was  told 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

by  wiser  and  greater  heads  than  his  that  he  was  keeping 
up  the  spirit  of  John  Bull,  and  he  believed  it. 

The  highest  eulogy  upon  him  was  by  Borrow,  who 
wrote  "  Hail  to  thee,  six-foot  Englishman  of  the 
brown  eye,  worthy  to  have  carried  a  six-foot  banner 
at  Flodden." 

None  of  those  who  went  before  Spring  ever  attained 
such  excellence  in  fistic  science ;  none  of  his  con- 
temporaries equalled  him. 

Never  did  human  being  possess  such  coolness  and 
unshaken  stability  of  temper ;  never  were  strength, 
elegance,  and  intrepidity  so  happily  blended  in  one 
individual  before.  Though  urbane  and  civil  in 
private  life,  Spring  would  allow  no  liberties,  and 
people  soon  discovered  it. 

When  pugilism  began  to  decline,  Spring  retired 
to  the  Castle  Tavern,  Holborn — as  the  landlord  of  this 
hostelry  he  has  been  immortalised  in  the  pages  of 
Lavengro — and  was  instrumental  in  founding  the 
Fair  Play  Club,  which  was  very  strict  and  uncom- 
promising in  the  rules  for  fighting  which  it  laid 
down. 

In  later  years,  after  he  had  ceased  to  be  champion, 
he  retired  to  what  were  called  his  winter  quarters,  in 
Hereford,  where  he  became  landlord  of  the  Boothall 
Tavern. 

Here,  one  fine  day,  came  half  a  dozen  hawkers  of 
silk  handkerchiefs,  who,  after  partaking  of  the  best 
which  the  house  could  afford,  met  the  landlord's  very 
civil  requests  for  payment  only  with  insolence  and 
abuse.  Not  content  with  this,  three  of  these  pedlars, 

221 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

feeling  their  valour  wax  warm,  and  forgetting  the 
kind  of  person  they  had  to  deal  with,  rose  to  pay 
the  champion  off  in  a  kind  of  coin  which  he  had 
always  been  particularly  handy  in  giving  a  satisfactory 
receipt  for.  Spring,  however,  declined  the  honour, 
and  with  equal  temper  and  discretion  retreated 
from  his  assailants,  stopping  their  blows,  and  smiling 
at  their  vain  attempts  to  touch  him.  He  immediately 
sent  for  a  constable,  but  the  guardian  of  the  law 
declined  to  attend.  Finding  that  the  law  refused  to 
protect  him,  and  the  fellows  still  insisting  on  covering 
him  with  violent  abuse  in  reply  to  his  repeated 
attempts  to  induce  them  to  be  quiet,  he  at  last  very 
properly,  goaded  by  the  most  outrageous  provocation, 
determined  to  adopt  the  shortest  method  of  quieting 
such  characters,  and,  requesting  the  persons  present 
not  to  interfere,  after  every  peaceable  remonstrance 
had  failed,  he  proceeded  to  expel  the  intruders. 
Three  of  them  rushed  on  him  at  once,  and  he  was 
soon  surrounded  by  the  six.  Perhaps  in  his  best  days 
he  never  showed  such  science,  coolness,  and  courage 
as  he  displayed  on  this  occasion  ;  right  and  left,  every 
blow  told  on  their  sconces,  and  on  one  occasion  they 
were  all  down  together.  In  less  than  twenty  minutes 
they  were  completely  brought  to  a  standstill,  and 
the  champion,  acknowledged  victor,  coolly  observed 
that  he  would  thrash  twenty  of  their  sort  in  an  hour. 
They  were  all  stout  fellows,  at  least  thirteen  stone 
each. 

Spring  died  on  August  lyth,   1851,  aged  56.     To 
the  end  of  his  life  he  was  highly  respected. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

Another  thoroughly  honourable  and  straightfor- 
ward pugilist  was  Edward  Turner,  who  died  in 
1826. 

As  an  apprentice  of  nineteen  in  a  tanyard  at  Ber- 
mondsey,  though  never  of  a  quarrelsome  disposition, 
he  gained  a  name  for  skill  and  bravery  by  his  fistic 
prowess.  His  first  battle  was  with  the  foreman  of 
this  yard,  a  Bristol  man,  who  tried  to  lord  it  over  all 
out  of,  as  well  as  in,  business,  and  he  had  stood  forth 
as  the  champion  of  his  fellows.  After  an  hour's 
fighting  his  antagonist  gave  in,  totally  blind.  On 
another  occasion  he  defeated  a  big  Irishman  in 
Lock's  Fields  in  twenty-five  minutes.  At  this  time 
he  left  London  and  went  to  Glasgow,  where  he  was 
matched  against  a  powerful  Scotchman,  named 
M'Niel ;  and  though  the  latter  was  five  feet  eleven, 
and  thirteen  stone,  Ned  soon  took  the  shine  out  of 
him,  completely  defeating  him  in  half  an  hour.  Blacket 
also,  a  taller  and  heavier  man,  was  obliged  to  knock 
under  to  Ned  on  Newcastle  race-course  ;  and  on  his 
return  to  town  he  was  still  crowned  with  laurels  by 
defeating  a  Jew  of  some  notoriety  in  St.  George's 
Fields,  as  well  as  by  making  a  successful  stand  against 
five  watermen,  who  set  on  him,  and  after  a  short 
struggle,  obliging  them  to  steer  off  amid  the  hootings 
of  the  assembled  multitude,  who,  at  Ned's  request, 
permitted  him  to  put  their  helm  about.  Neverthe- 
less, Turner  never  sought  to  rank  as  a  professional 
pugilist  till  he  was  challenged  by  John  Curtis  (brother 
to  the  Pet  of  the  Fancy),  who  had  distinguished 
himself  on  several  occasions ;  and  though  Ned  was 
223 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

loath  to  enter  the  ring,  he  was  egged  on  to  the  trial 
by  hints  which  he  considered  might  call  his  courage 
in  question.  They  fought  in  October,  1816,  at 
Moulsey ;  and  after  an  hour  and  thirty-five  minutes 
Ned  was  declared  the  victor.  Curtis  was  carried 
out  of  the  ring  senseless,  and  died  a  few  hours  after- 
wards. Ned  was  tried  at  the  Old  Bailey,  and  found 
guilty  of  manslaughter ;  but  his  conduct  during  the 
battle  was  so  humane  towards  his  opponent — for- 
bearing to  take  that  advantage  which  his  superiority 
gave  him  in  many  instances,  and,  when  he  could  have 
ended  the  battle  by  a  blow,  lifting  up  his  hands  and 
walking  away — that  he  was  sentenced  to  only  two 
months'  imprisonment  in  Newgate. 

After  this  a  long  series  of  triumphs  ensued,  till  in- 
temperance caused  his  decadence  and  death. 

Probably  the  most  successful  prize-fighter  who 
ever  lived  was  John  Gully,  who,  after  attaining  great 
celebrity  in  the  ring,  took  to  racing,  and  finally 
became  a  member  of  Parliament  and  a  colliery 
proprietor.  Gully  fought  but  three  fights  in  all — 
the  first  just  before  Trafalgar,  the  last  seven  years 
before  Waterloo,  after  which  he  retired  in  a  blaze  of 
triumph.  As  an  historical  figure — and  he  merits 
that  appellation  owing  to  his  remarkable  career — he 
belongs  to  the  long-bygone  age  of  Corinthians  and 
stage  coaches,  of  the  prize-ring,  and  the  cock-pit, 
an  age  which  it  is  difficult  even  to  picture  to 
oneself  to-day.  John  Gully  was  the  son  of  an  inn- 
keeper, near  Bristol,  who  became  a  butcher.  His 
business  did  not  prosper,  and  his  son  found  himself, 
224 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

in  1805,  an  inmate  of  the  King's  Bench  prison  on 
account  of  a  debt. 

William  Pearce— the  "Game  Chicken  "—also  a 
Bristol  man,  came  one  day  to  see  Gully  in  the  prison, 
and  there  being  boxing  gloves  in  the  room,  a  sparring 
match  was  suggested.  Gully,  it  should  be  added,  had 
once  thrashed  a  bully  severely ;  he  knew  something 
of  fighting,  and  gave  a  good  account  of  himself  with 
the  Chicken,  which  came  to  the  ears  of  Mr.  Fletcher 
Read,  a  Maecenas  of  pugilism  of  the  day. 

The  latter  thought  that  a  combat  between  the  two 
would  afford  good  sport,  and  Gully,  being  in  no  wise 
unwilling  to  fight  his  way  out,  was  sent  into  training  at 
Virginia  Water,  his  debts  being  paid.  The  two  met 
on  Tuesday,  8th  October,  1805,  at  Hailsham,  in  Sussex, 
before  an  enormous  concourse  of  people.  The  Duke 
of  Clarence,  afterwards  William  IV,  watched  the  fight 
from  horseback,  and  many  distinguished  people  were 
present. 

Before  proceeding  to  describe  Gully's  career  some 
account  of  the  famous  Game  Chicken  will,  perhaps, 
not  be  out  of  place. 

William  Pearce  had  first  entered  the  lists  with 
Bourke,  whom  Belcher  had  twice  beaten,  and  they 
fought  in  a  room  in  St.  Martin's  Lane  by  candle-light. 
The  conflict  was  short  and  desperate,  and  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  the  Bristol  hero  was  declared  the  victor. 
The  bottom  he  evinced  on  this  occasion  procured  him 
the  name  of  the  Game  Chicken,  upon  which  he  crowed 
defiance  to  all  the  game  cocks  in  the  kingdom,  Belcher 
excepted,  as  he  was  unwilling  to  fight  any  Bristol  man. 
Q  225 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

His  fight  with  Gully  lasted  sixty-four  rounds — one 
hour  and  seventeen  minutes.  In  one  of  the  early 
rounds  Gully  put  in  a  "  most  tremendous  blow  upon 
the  Chicken's  mouth." 

Pearce's  lip  was  split  by  this  blow.  "  What  do 
you  think  of  it  now,  Pearce  ? "  said  Gentleman 
Jackson  to  him.  "  The  thing  will  never  hurt  no- 
body if  he  can't  hit  harder  than  that,"  replied  the 
Chicken. 

After  the  forty-fourth  round  the  end  seems  never 
to  have  been  in  doubt,  poor  Gully  being  in  a  sad 
plight.  Nevertheless,  he  struggled  gamely  on  for 
another  twenty  rounds,  until  he  at  last  resigned  on  the 
advice  of  his  backer.  The  Chicken  then  came  up  to 
Gully,  who  was  held  up  by  his  friends,  and  shook  him 
by  the  hand,  saying,  "  You're  a  damned  good  fellow. 
I  am  hard  put  to  it  to  stand.  You're  the  only  man  that 
ever  stood  up  to  me." 

William  Pearce  had  a  heart  animated  by  noble 
and  elevated  feelings,  which  even  his  dissipated  habits 
of  life  could  never  deaden  or  suppress.  As  a  fighter 
he  was  a  most  formidable  opponent.  He  half  killed 
an  opponent  on  Wimbledon  Common,  and  utterly 
vanquished  Elias  Spray,  the  hard-hitting  coppersmith. 
Unlike  many  other  boxers,  he  was  a  humane  and 
chivalrous  man,  and  his  combat  with  Belcher,  in 
1805,  was  a  credit  both  to  British  pugilism  and  the 
name  of  Pearce.  In  the  twelfth  round  the  Chicken 
went  in  and  rallied  furiously,  and  it  was  evident 
Belcher  had  fallen  off  in  strength  ;  he  had  materially 
the  worst  of  the  rally.  The  Chicken  closed  and  threw 
226 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Belcher  on  the  rope,  and  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
ending  the  fight ;  for  Belcher  lay  balanced  upon  his 
back,  and  had  the  Chicken  given  him  one  of  his 
death-like  blows  he  most  have  beat  killed.  Instead 
of  which  tHis  chivalrous  fighter — putting  himself  in 
an  attitude  for  striking  the  blow,  and  looking  round 
the  ring  with  a  countenance  in  which  shone  a  '"'^g**^ 
TflUff^  of  justice  and  compassion— PTflaim^dj  "  Jem7  I 
won't  take  advantage  of  thee." 

Pearce  signalised  himself  also,  in  the  revival  of  the 
age  of  chivalry,  as  a  champion  for  the  fair  sex.  He 
delivered  a  forlorn  damsel  from  ill-treatment  at 
the  hands  of  three  gamekeepers,  whom  he  discom- 
fited and  put  to  flight ;  and  in  1807,  at  Bristol,  he 
rescued  another  young  woman  from  perishing  in  the 
flames,  at  the  extreme  peril  of  his  own  life. 

When  in  the  very  height  of  his  fame  the  Chicken 
fell  into  dissolute  courses,  and  became  too  ill  ever  to 
fight  again  ;  he  died  in  1809  from  an  affection  of  the 
Ings,  and  left  Gully  undisputed  master  of  the  field. 

In  connection  with  the  Game  Chicken  the  follow- 
ing  incident  occurred : 

Whilst  Gully  was  on  his  way  to  Brighton  he  stopped 
for  refreshment  at  an  inn  at  Reigate,  and  during  his 
sojourn  there  a  stage  coach,  pretty  well  crowded  with 
passengers  inside  and  out,  stopped  at  the  door.  A 
waiter,  on  the  step  of  the  entrance  to  the  house, 
at  this  instant  vociferated,  "You  are  just  in  time, 
gentlemen ;  Gully  has  at  this  moment  set-to  with  the 
chicken  !  "  and  immediately  disappeared,  as  if  anxious 
to  witness  the  diversion  himself.  The  words  of  the 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

waiter  appeared  highly  exciting  to  every  one  who 
heard  them.  In  a  few  minutes  the  coach  was  left 
without  a  passenger,  and  the  whole  crowd  thronged 
into  the  house,  and,  on  learning  where  Gully  was, 
eagerly  made  their  way  to  his  room,  where,  as  the 
waiter  had  described,  the  good-natured  pugilist  was 
discovered  on  the  point  of  commencing  a  set-to  with  a 
roast  chicken,  done  to  a  turn  ! 

Though  Gully  was  never  formally  nominated  as  the 
Chicken's  successor  in  the  championship,  no  one 
appeared  anxious  to  fight  him  for  two  years,  during 
which  he  reposed  upon  his  laurels. 

At  the  end  of  that  time,  however,  a  famous  fighting 
man  from  the  north  appeared.  This  was  Bob 
Gregson,  whom  Gully  encountered  on  I4th  October, 
1807,  at  Six-mile  Bottom,  near  Newmarket,  when  a 
most  obstinate  battle  ensued,  lasting  thirty-six  rounds, 
the  beginning  of  which  was  all  in  Gully's  favour. 
At  the  twenty-fourth  round,  however,  Gregson's 
strength — for  he  was  a  gigantic  man — began  to  tell, 
and  Gully's  chances  seemed  to  have  disappeared.  The 
men  were  now  scarcely  able  to  stand  or  hold  up 
their  hands,  and  in  the  last  round  "  no  drunken  man 
staggered  more  or  appeared  incapable  to  stand  steady 
than  both  the  combatants  did."  Gully,  however, 
pulled  himself  together  for  one  supreme  effort  and 
knocked  Gregson  down.  The  Lancashire  giant  could 
not  rise  at  the  call  of  time,  and  Gully,  like  a  tired 
horse  with  his  nose  turned  towards  home,  as  Pierce 
Egan  said,  "  endeavoured  to  make  a  jump  of  it  to 
show  how  much  he  valued  the  victory."  Gregson's 
228 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

friends,  however,  were  not  satisfied.  They  thought 
that  if  they  could  add  to  his  great  strength  a  know- 
ledge of  scientific  boxing  he  must  vanquish  Gully, 
and  after  some  negotiations  a  second  fight  was  fixed 
for  Thursday,  I2th  May,  1808.  Some  five  days  before 
this,  a  rumour  having  spread  that  the  ring  would  be 
pitched  on  a  certain  common  on  the  borders  of 
Buckinghamshire  and  Bedfordshire,  Lord  Bucking- 
ham gave  public  notice  in  the  London  papers  that 
he  would  prevent  such  a  breach  of  the  peace ;  but  in 
spite  of  this,  as  early  as  the  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
every  bed  and  stable,  every  barn  and  outhouse,  in 
every  village  between  London  and  Woburn,  was 
snapped  up  at  famine  prices.  In  one  room  at  Woburn 
fifteen  men  lay  on  chairs  or  on  the  floor  at  two  guineas 
a  night.  The  villagers  were  amazed  at  the  crowds, 
and  some  of  the  more  credulous  believed  it  was  a 
French  invasion.  There  appeared  on  the  scene  the 
Dunstable  Volunteers,  in  full  fighting  array;  and  it 
was  some  time  before  it  was  realised  that  the  cause  of 
the  turmoil  was  merely  a  projecte4  fight  on  Ashley 
Common,  which  the  authorities  were  determined  to 
prevent.  On  the  day  of  the  fight  crowds  thronged  the 
road  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Bill  Richmond,  the 
black,  acted  as  "  finger-post,"  attired  in  blue  coat, 
white  waistcoat  and  pantaloons,  and  a  white  hat 
lined  with  green,  and  directed  every  one  to  Ashley 
Common.  After  a  short  time,  however,  up  rode 
the  redoubtable  Mendoza  in  a  green  coat,  and  an- 
nounced that  there  would  be  no  fight  at  Ashley. 
The  long  string  of  carriages  and  horsemen  then 
229 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

set  out  for  another  place,  a  journey  of  seventeen 
miles,  to  where  the  ring  was  set  up  at  Beechwood — 
Sir  John  Sebright's  park,  in  Hertfordshire.  It  was  then 
raining  in  torrents  and  the  ground  soaked  and  sodden, 
but  the  spectators  lay  down  in  the  wet  with  perfect 
cheerfulness,  and  at  last  the  two  combatants  appeared, 
clad  in  white  breeches  and  silk  stockings ;  owing  to 
Gregson  having  a  pair  of  spiked  shoes,  both  parties 
fought  in  their  stockinged  feet. 

The  latter  gave  a  poor  account  of  himself,  for  he 
seemed  to  have  lost  his  natural  dash,  and  during  the 
whole  eighteen  rounds  there  was  but  one  in  it,  and 
that  one  Gully.  After  the  fight  was  over  the  victor 
addressed  the  crowd,  telling  them  that  he  would 
never  fight  again,  and  with  this  triumphant  exit  his 
career  as  a  fighting  man  ended. 

It  should  be  added  that  the  spot  in  the  park,  now 
in  the  possession  of  Sir  Edgar  Sebright,  where  the 
famous  fight  took  place,  has  ever  since  been  known  as 
"  Gully's  Bottom."  The  grass  in  certain  parts  grows 
in  a  very  patchy  and  irregular  way,  which  local  tradi- 
tion asserts  has  been  caused  by  the  quantity  of  blood 
spilt  there  during  the  famous  fight. 

According  to  the  custom  of  his  day,  Gully  shortly 
afterwards  bade  farewell  to  his  patrons  at  the 
Fives  Court,  and  then  became  landlord  of  an  inn, 
in  his  case  "  The  Plough,"  in  Carey  Street. 

He  now  began  to  frequent  the  turf  a  good  deal, 

and  in  1812,  besides  owning  a  racehorse,   sometimes 

laid  the  odds,  with  the  result  that  fifteen  years  later 

he  was  able  to  buy  Mameluke  of  Lord  Jersey  for  four 

230 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  If^ays 

thousand  guineas.  He  lost,  it  is  said,  some  £40,000 
when  this  horse  was  beaten  by  Matilda,  but  eventually 
got  his  losings  back. 

About  1846  was  the  zenith  of  Gully's  turf  career. 
In  that  year,  in  partnership  with  John  Day,  he  won 
the  Derby  and  the  Oaks ;  however,  his  successes  are 
too  well  known  to  need  chronicling.  He  had  now 
become  a  rich  and  well-respected  country  gentleman, 
and  for  some  years  sat  as  member  for  Pontefract. 
His  money  he  shrewdly  invested  in  collieries. 

He  alone  of  all  the  prize-fighters  rose  high  in  the 
social  scale  and  achieved  considerable  renown. 

His  whole  career  was  extraordinary.  When  he  died, 
in  1863,  aged  eighty*  he  had  won  the  Derby  three 
times,  and  had  had  twenty-four  children — the  first 
achievement  up  till  then  unique,  and  the  second 
rare. 

Another  remarkable  man,  whose  name  looms  large 
in  the  annals  of  the  old  prize-ring,  was  Gentleman 
Jackson,  the  father  of  the  modern  school  of  boxing, 
who  was  born  in  1769,  and,  like  Gully,  fought  only 
three  battles,  two  of  which  he  won.  In  the  first  of 
these  he  proved  the  victor  at  Smitham  Bottom,  near 
Croydon,  when  nineteen  years  old.  In  a  subsequent 
fight  with  a  very  powerful  man  of  six  feet — George 
Ingleston  (George  the  Brewer) — at  the  Swan  Inn, 
Ingatestone,  Essex,  he  was  less  lucky,  for  when  every- 
thing seemed  going  in  his  favour  he  slipped  and 
severely  injured  his  leg.  With  great  courage  Jackson 
offered  to  continue  the  fight  strapped  to  a  chair 
if  his  opponent  would  do  likewise,  but  this  not  being 
231 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

to  the  latter's  taste,  Jackson  was  decided  to  have  lost  the 
fight. 

Gentleman  Jackson's  third,  last,  and  most  cele- 
brated public  appearance  in  the  ring  was  at  Horn- 
church,  in  Essex,  in  April,  1795,  when  he  vanquished 
the  gallant  Mendoza  in  nine  rounds.  This  fight, 
which  was  for  two  hundred  guineas  a  side,  lasted 
little  more  than  ten  minutes.  A  number  of  spectators 
who  belonged  to  the  same  race  as  the  beaten  hero 
were  highly  incensed  at  Jackson's  behaviour  during 
this  contest,  at  one  period  of  which,  having  with  his 
right  hand  seized  the  long  black  hair  of  the  Hebrew 
champion,  he  unmercifully  hammered  him  with  his 
disengaged  hand.  However,  cries  of  "  Foul !  "  were 
raised  in  vain,  the  referee  deciding  that  no  written 
rule  of  the  ring  had  been  broken. 

After  this  Jackson  retired  from  the  ring  and  set  up 
an  establishment  at  13  Bond  Street,  where  fashionable 
Corinthians  went  to  practise  and  learn  the  noble  art 
of  self-defence.  Amongst  his  patrons  here  was  Lord 
Byron,  who  alluded  to  him  in  Don  "Juan.  All  the 
great  personages  of  the  day  went  at  some  time 
to  these  rooms.  Gentleman  Jackson  outlived  all  the 
rest  of  the  old  fighting  men,  and  died,  aged  seventy- 
seven,  in  1845.  He  was  buried  in  Brompton  cemetery, 
where  a  fine  monument,  surmounted  by  a  magnificent 
lion,  marks  the  spot  where,  "  his  last  combat  o'er," 
this  old-style  Englishman  lies.  Besides  being  endowed 
with  great  strength  and  courage,  Gentleman  Jackson 
was  possessed  of  many  social  gifts  which  made  him 
universally  popular.  He  was,  it  should  be  added,  of 
232 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

far  better  birth  than  the  vast  majority  of  the  prize- 
fighters of  his  day,  having  been  the  son  of  an  emi- 
nent architect,  and  this  no  doubt  accounted  for  the 
unobtrusive  and  tactful  manners  which  gained  him 
universal  popularity. 

George  IV,  who  liked  him,  caused  him  to  be  asked 
to  attend  his  coronation,  on  which  occasion  he  is  said 
to  have  accorded  the  tough  old  fighter  a  special  nod 
of  recognition. 

Though  the  later  days  of  the  prize  ring  hardly 
come  within  the  scope  of  this  volume,  some  reference 
may  be  permitted  to  the  gallant  and  unconquered 
champion — Tom  Sayers — who  at  Farnborough,  on 
Tuesday,  April  iyth,  1860,  fought  the  historic  battle 
with  the  American,  Heenan*  (known  as  "  the  Benicia 
Boy  ").  Sayers  was  but  5  ft.  8-£  in.  in  height — Heenan 
6ft.  liin.  The  contest  was  a  most  determined 
one  and  should  be  remembered  as  a  conspicuous 
instance  of  English  pluck,  for  Sayers  fought  some 
rounds  with  a  broken  arm,  had  it  not  been  for  which 
he  would  almost  certainly  have  won ;  as  it  was,  the 
battle  was  declared  a  draw,  each  man  being  presented 
with  a  silver  belt ;  oddly  enough,  the  one  given  to 
Heenan  hangs  at  White's  Club,  lent  by  Mr.  Gilbert 
Elliot.  Mr.  Barclay  Walker  owns  Sayers'  belt,  I 
believe. 

This  fight  was  practically  the  last  real  prize-fight 
fought  in  England,  and  in  all  probability  scarcely 
any  one  who  witnessed  it  is  still  alive.  Mr.  John 

*  Heenan  married  the  handsome  actress  Ada  Menken,  who  wrote 
Infelicia  and  other  poems. 

233 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Gideon,  who  was  one  of  Sayers'  seconds,  died  in 
Paris  a  few  years  ago.  The  present  writer  well  remem- 
bers how  the  old  man's  eye  would  sparkle  when  ques- 
tioned about  the  great  battle,  and  his  enthusiastic 
references  to  Tom's  courage.  Sayers,  who,  it  should  be 
mentioned,  was  a  Sussex  man,  lies  buried  in  Highgate 
cemetery,  beneath  a  monument  very  appropriately 
adorned  with  a  medallion  portrait  and  a  recumbent 
mastiff.*  The  inscription,  it  would  seem,  has  been  al- 
most effaced  by  time,  but  though  the  lettering  may 
have  faded  from  the  stone  the  memory  of  gallant 
Tom  Sayers — with  whose  name  was  associated  all 
that  was  bold,  generous,  manly,  and  honest  in  pugilism 
— will  ever  be  kept  green  by  admirers  of  that  striking 
old-fashioned  English  determination  of  which  he  was 
such  a  conspicuous  and  unwavering  example. 

The  old  school  of  prize-fighters  is  now,  except  for 
Jem  Mace  (the  last  surviving  champion),  extinct, 
the  ring,  once  a  recognised  sporting  institution 
amongst  a  people  who  worshipped  personal  hardihood 
and  bravery,  having — not  unnaturally,  perhaps — sunk 
into  disrepute. 

The  battles  of  the  future,  it  is  said,  will  no  longer 
be  won  by  brute  force,  or  the  victors  be  inspired  by 
the  spirit  which  in  former  days  animated  soldier  as 
well  as  pugilist;  the  primitive  qualities  of  courage 
and  physical  endurance  are,  we  are  given  to  under- 
stand, not  essential  to  the  success  of  a  modern  nation. 

In  1851  George  Borrow,  deploring  the  death  of 
pugilism,  wrote,  "  All  I  have  to  say  is  that  the  French 

*  A  representation  of  his  favourite  dog  Lion. 
234 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

still   live  on    the  other   side  of   the  water   and  are 
still  casting  their  eyes  hitherward." 

To-day,  happily,  it  is  but  a  friendly  glance  that 
reaches  us  from  across  the  Channel,  but  should  not 
only  the  eyes  but  the  highly-trained  legions  of  another 
great  nation  be  cast  hitherward,  who  can  say  that 
England  may  not  have  reason  to  regret  that  she  ever 
resigned  herself  to  the  guidance  of  sentimentalists 
whose  ideals — admirable  though  they  may  be — are 
scarcely  likely  to  produce  that  unquenchable  spirit  of 
vigorous  hardihood  and  endurance  for  which  the 
British  were  once  renowned  ? 


235 


VIII 

CINCE  its  introduction  into  England  battue  shoot- 
ing has  been  exposed  to  constant  and  severe 
criticism,  accounts  of  the  vast  quantities  of  game 
slaughtered  making  much  impression  upon  sensitive 
minds.  It  should,  however,  be  remembered  that  in 
reality,  owing  to  the  perfection  of  modern  arrange- 
ments, a  very  minute  percentage  of  wounded  birds 
escapes  to  suffer;  indeed,  the  reproach  of  cruelty 
cannot  with  any  justice  be  levelled  against  those 
participating  in  a  big  day. 

Also  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  people  at 
large  are  by  this  system  enabled  to  purchase  game 
at  a  moderate  price,  whereas  in  the  days  before 
battues  they  could  never  get  it  at  all ;  and  lastly,  the 
number  of  pheasants  annually  sent  to  hospitals  is 
very  large. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  the  abolition  of  the  Game 
Laws  would  be  anything  but  a  benefit  to  the  populace 
generally.  In  Norway  such  laws  have  recently  been 
adopted,  not  for  the  pleasure  of  the  rich,  but  in  the 
interests  of  the  people. 

Whilst,  as  has  been  shown,  a  good  deal  of  the  abuse 

levelled   against   the   modern   system   of  shooting  is 

unfair,  there  can  nevertheless  be  no  doubt  but  that 

the   old   school   were   more   thoroughly   devoted   to 

236 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

sport  in  the  real  sense  of  the  word.  To  be  patient 
and  persevering  under  difficulties,  however  compli- 
cated ;  to  feel  interest  without  relaxation  in  what  is 
going  on  ;  to  entertain  hope  under  all  extremities ; 
to  succeed  through  such  disheartening  prospects  as 
would  have  intimidated  men  of  little  experience, 
and  to  attain  one's  object  or  objects  in  spite  of 
serious  hardship  and  difficulty — this  is  what  sport 
meant  to  them. 

Our  forefathers,  after  a  hasty  meal,  taken  com- 
monly at  daybreak,  hurried  to  the  field,  where  they 
explored  wilds  and  wastes  in  the  true  spirit  of  adven- 
ture— their  patience  and  perseverance  betokening 
their  ardour,  and  their  efforts  continuing  often  till 
the  period  of  the  setting  sun  ;  and  though  their  subse- 
quent conviviality  was  not  infrequently  carried  to 
excess,  recourse  was  not  so  often  had  to  the  physician 
as  nowadays.  Toil  strung  their  nerves,  and  habitual 
exposure  "  steeled "  their  constitutions.  What  a 
contrast  to  the  luxurious  ease  with  which  vast  loads 
of  game  are  slaughtered  in  modern  times,  when  the 
wholesome  pleasures  of  a  year  are  sometimes  crowded 
into  one  short  day ! 

Man  can  have  but  enough.  His  enjoyments  are 
limited  with  his  powers  to  enjoy ;  and  the  greater 
and  more  rapid  the  consumption  of  pleasure,  the 
earlier  comes  the  distaste  for  it  altogether. 

Compare  the  joys  of  the  modern  crack  shot,  who 

vies  with  others  merely  as  to  who  shall  destroy  most, 

to  the  modest  rivalry  of  a  couple  of  old  sportsmen 

of  the  past  with  single  barrels,  a  brace  of  dogs,  and 

237 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

one  horse  and  a  servant  between  them,  taking  the 
country  steadily  in  the  wind's  eye  ;  watching  with 
attentive  care  the  behaviour  of  the  dogs ;  resting 
in  the  heat  of  the  mid-hour  under  the  cooling  shade 
of  a  tenant's  humble  doorway,  and  finishing  the  day 
with  a  bag  such  as  would  be  considered  insignificant 
by  sportsmen  of  the  modern  school ! 

How  happy  was  the  life  of  the  old-fashioned 
sportsman  possessed  of  a  small  sporting  estate.  In 
September  there  was  partridge  shooting,  with  its 
pleasing  attributes,  to  be  steadily  pursued  till  came 
the  pheasant  shooting,  from  its  shining  beauty,  on 
the  first  of  October,  to  its  happiest  variety  in  Novem- 
ber ;  woodcock,  till  frost  had  driven  both  the  sports- 
man and  the  birds  from  the  woods ;  snipe,  while  the 
bogs  were  wet,  and  when  the  rippling  spring  still 
ran  through  sparkling  icicles ;  and  then  arousing  the 
deepest  interest,  and  asking  for  greater  nicety  of 
management,  wild-fowl  shooting,  most  exciting  of 
sports,  when  the  spirits  were  buoyant  and  the  eye 
clear. 

The  pleasures  of  good  English  sporting  used  to 
consist  in  "  the  conscious  pride  of  art  " — in  watching 
and  training  the  fine  instinct  of  the  dog  against  the 
finer  instinct  of  the  bird — in  the  power  of  the  man  to 
pursue  and  in  his  skill  to  strike  his  wild  and  wary 
prey — to  follow  "  over  hill,  over  dale,  through  bush, 
through  briar,"  with  an  activity  that  declared  health 
and  vigour,  and  a  perseverance  that  indicated  the 
keen  sense  of  delight  with  which  the  sport  was  urged. 
The  difficulty  constituted  all  the  glory  of  success. 
238 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Sport  with  a  gun  would  seem  to  have  been  taken 
rather  less  seriously  then  than  now  ;  for  the  majority 
of  shooters  it  was  a  pastime  which,  though  it  not  in- 
frequently involved  strenuous  effort,  remained  a  pas- 
time and  nothing  else.  At  the  present  time  no  in- 
considerable section  of  expert  shots,  instead  of 
indulging  in  sport  as  nature  intended — that  is,  as 
a  recreation  from  more  important  pursuits — behave 
as  if  the  slaughter  of  game  were  the  only  serious  busi- 
ness in  life.  There  is  often  as  much  fuss  and  ceremony 
in  preparing  and  in  going  out  to  kill  partridges  or 
pheasants,  and  such  a  gathering  of  people,  as  there 
was  in  olden  time,  in  the  north,  when  a  whole  clan 
was  called  out  to  go  against  the  common  enemy. 

In  these  days  a  good  bag  is  the  chief  thing  demanded 
by  those  fond  of  shooting,  and  there  must  be  some 
allurement  of  this  sort,  besides  green  fields  and  pretty 
prospects,  to  induce  sportsmen  to  reside  at  their 
homes.  To  sixteen  in  twenty  of  these  the  preserva- 
tion of  game  is  the  chief  attraction. 

When  battues  after  the  modern  fashion  first 
began  to  grow  popular  many  voices  were  raised  against 
them,  and  not  a  few  sportsmen  of  the  old-fashioned 
school  joined  in  the  outcry.  They  complained  that 
this  form  of  sport — if  sport  it  could  be  called — 
merely  gave  to  a  select  few  an  occasional  day  of 
merciless  butchery  against  creatures  reared  as  pets ; 
that  in  reality  it  was  nothing  but  an  attempt  to 
introduce  into  this  country  the  feudal  chase  of  the 
Continent  for  the  amusement  of  certain  un-English 
personages,  who,  too  effeminate  for  the  real  sports 
239 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  the  field,  glutted  their  thirst  for  blood  in  the 
slaughter  of  the  stupid  pheasant.  They  also  averred 
that  the  modern  system  of  "  preserving  "  had  done 
away  with  all  that  was  wild  and  really  sporting  in  the 
pleasure  of  carrying  a  gun.  It  had  entirely  shut  out 
the  middle  classes  from  the  enjoyment  of  that  pleasure, 
and,  above  all,  that  it  had  been  of  serious  and  material 
injury  to  fox-hunting,  the  noblest  and  most  truly 
national  of  all  sports. 

Old-fashioned  sportsmen  manifested  much  dislike 
to  the  modern  methods  of  shooting,  which  required 
people  without  number  in  attendance  ;  ponies  to 
ride  after  the  birds ;  men,  on  their  backs,  to  mark 
them  down ;  other  folks,  with  other  spare  guns,  and 
spare  hands  to  load  them,  that  the  shooter  might  not 
blacken  his  own,  or  fatigue  himself  too  much.  The 
modern  shot,  said  they,  must,  above  all,  never  be 
without  a  loaded  gun  in  his  hand — for,  oh  !  it  would 
be  terrible  if  a  bird  were  to  get  up  while  he  was  load- 
ing, and  a  chance  of  killing  one  more  head  be  lost. 

With  reference  to  riding  the  birds  down,  it  may 
be  stated  that  Lord  Anglesey,  of  Waterloo  fame, 
who  was  very  fond  of  shooting  up  to  the  end  of  his 
life,  used  to  shoot  grouse  from  a  pony.  He  seems 
to  have  been  a  dangerous  companion.  On  one  occasion 
he  shot  through  the  crown  of  a  tall  hat  on  the  head 
of  a  Welsh  clergyman,  who  was  naturally  much 
frightened.  "  My  good  man,"  remarked  Lord  Angle- 
sey, "  don't  be  afraid  ;  I'm  a  perfect  master  of  the 
weapon." 

It  is  not  generally  known  that  Lord  Anglesey  very 
240 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

handsomely  refused  a  pension  of  £1200  a  year  for 
the  loss  of  his  leg  at  Waterloo,  and  as  he  lived  till 
1854,  he  tnus  saved  the  nation  nearly  .£47,000. 

He  could  be  very  bluff  on  occasion.  When,  for 
instance,  he  was  attacked  by  a  hostile  mob  for  being 
a  partisan  of  King  George  IV  against  Queen  Caroline, 
he  put  his  head  out  of  his  coach  window  and  shouted, 
"  May  all  your  wives  be  like  her." 

To  return,  however,  to  the  subject  of  what  old- 
fashioned  shots  thought  of  sporting  innovations, 
their  comments  on  the  organisers  of  battues  were 
severe  in  the  extreme.  The  sole  idea,  said  they, 
of  a  new-fashioned  preserver  of  game  was  to  slaughter 
a  great  heap  of  birds  in  a  very  small  space  of  time. 
They  denounced  the  wasteful  extravagance  of  modern 
pheasant  shooting,  so  tersely  described  by  the  hunts- 
man who  said  :  "  Up  goes  a  guinea,  bang  goes  a  penny, 
and  down  comes  half  a  crown." 

Others  pointed  out  the  absurdity  of  big  shoots  and 
of  the  growing  practice  of  sacrificing  everything 
to  a  gala  day  of  slaughter.  Gone  were  the  good  old 
times,  said  they,  when  sportsmen  delighted  in  a  little 
cheerful  sport.  On  a  fine  November  or  December 
morning,  with  a  rustling  spaniel  bolting  a  fine  chuck- 
ling cock-pheasant  from  his  run  in  a  hedgerow,  or 
mayhap  a  bouncing  hare  from  her  form,  or  little 
rabbit  from  his  close  hiding  in  the  furzy  bank. 

One  violent  opponent  of  battue  shooting  denounced 

this   form   of   sport   as   cruel,  selfish,  and  unmanly. 

"  Devoted  as  I  am,"  said  he,  "  to  my  pointers  and 

my  gun,  I  would  consign  them  all  to  the  Deuce,  and 

R  241 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

take  to  chasing  rabbits  with  a  lobster,  and  killing 
hares  with  Spanish  snuff,  sooner  than  have  the  fox 
disturbed,  or  this  battue-ing  tolerated." 

The  pheasant,  a  child  of  foreign  birth,  was  declared 
to  have  brought  in  its  train  foreign  customs  and 
manners. 

A  sporting  critic  said,  "Of  all  the  un-Englishmanlike, 
unsportsmanlike  practices  which  I  have  ever  witnessed 
in  the  field,  that  called  the  Battue  is  the  most  offensive 
to  a  real  sportsman  ;  and  the  most  strenuous  defender 
of  it  can  only  place  it  one  degree  beyond  shooting 
rooks  in  a  rookery.  A  dozen  men — I  cannot  call  them 
sportsmen — go  out  about  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  are  placed  at  different  parts  of  a  covert. 
They  seldom  stir  many  yards  from  the  spot  at  which 
they  are  posted,  where  their  guns  are  put  ready  loaded 
into  their  hands  by  a  slave  in  waiting,  in  order  that 
no  time  may  be  wasted  in  shooting  at  everything 
that  comes  within  their  reach.  Finally,  when  they 
return  home,  with  about  a  thousand  head  of  game 
killed  (and  half  as  many  more  wounded),  an  account 
is  sent  of  their  *  grand  day's  sport '  to  the  London 
newspapers.  Dogs,  and  the  excellence  of  their 
respective  qualities  and  breeds,  form  no  part  of  the 
day's  sport,  whereas,  before  the  country  was  so 
overrun  with  game,  the  merits  of  these  animals 
constituted,  with  sportsmen  at  least,  one  half  of  the 
pleasure." 

Old-fashioned  sportsmen  took  the  keenest  interest 
in  their  setters  and  pointers.     Sir  Robert  Dudley, 
son  to  the  famous  Earl  of  Leicester   by  his  second 
242 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

wife,  Dowager  Baroness  of  Sheffield,  and  whom,  for 
some  sinister  purpose,  his  father  bastardised,  is  said  to 
have  been  the  first  man  who  ever  taught  dogs  to  set 
partridges. 

The  origin  of  the  setter  has  been  derived  from  the 
pointer,  which  is  absolutely  impossible,  as  the  pointer 
was  not  known  until  after  the  introduction  of  shoot- 
ing flying,  somewhere  about  the  beginning  of  the 
eighteenth  century. 

Good  setters  were  difficult  to  train,  and  required 
great  care  and  attention,  especially  with  regard  to 
chasing  hares,  which  is,  of  course,  the  greatest  of 
temptations  to  young  dogs. 

Setters,  it  was  said,  never  did  well  except  in  a 
country  where  there  was  plenty  of  water. 

They  were  less  easily  broken  in  than  pointers,  which, 
however,  were  considered  better  for  partridge  shoot- 
ing across  an  open  country.  The  setter  was  better 
for  moor  game,  and  could  endure  more  fatigue, 
besides  being  more  active  and  stronger. 

Where  woodcocks  were  to  be  found  in  abundance 
setters  were  highly  useful.  Some  sportsmen  employed 
them  in  company  with  spaniels,  which  sounds  rather 
strange. 

It  should  be  added  that  by  some  the  setter  was 
considered  superior  to  the  pointer,  in  spite  of  the 
extra  trouble  in  training.  In  September  they  declared 
setters  had  all  the  dash  of  the  spaniel,  and  would 
follow  birds  when  they  got  into  cover,  which  the 
pointer  would  rarely  do. 

The  old  English  setters  were  brown  and  white, 
243 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

commonly  called  liver  and  white,  red  and  white, 
and  red — all  others  were  new  varieties.  The  brown, 
and  liver  and  white,  were  said  to  proceed  from  the 
spaniel ;  the  red  and  white,  and  red,  from  the  hound. 

The  only  idea  which  can  now  be  formed  of  the 
old  English  setter  is  from  pictures,  to  judge  from 
which  he  was  a  large,  strong,  and  rather  heavy  dog  ; 
indeed,  had  he  not  been  so,  there  would  have  been 
no  necessity  to  alter  the  genus,  when  the  more  active 
pursuit  of  the  fowling-piece  superseded  the  sport 
of  the  net.  It  is  obvious  that  a  strong  weighty  dog, 
who  would  knock  up  in  a  day's  modern  shooting, 
would  answer  perfectly  well,  if  not  better,  for  the 
tardy  process  of  the  net ;  because  two  or  three 
successive  draws  were  enough,  and  the  long  rests  the 
dog  got  would  enable  a  heavy  one  to  blow,  and  regain 
his  maximum  of  performance  as  to  speed.  Two  or 
three  draws  with  the  net  were  enough,  because  few 
manors  could  bear  more  reducing  at  a  season's  con- 
tinuance of  such  wholesale  work. 

Some  of  the  old  pointers  were  undoubtedly  remark- 
able dogs,  though  not  a  few  of  the  stories  told  of 
them  seem  hard  to  believe,  resembling  the  famous 
tale  of  Munchausen's  dog. 

One  Christmas  Day,  for  instance,  it  was  said  a 
certain  clergyman  was  riding  his  nag  from  his  parish 
church,  which  was  at  a  considerable  distance  from 
his  dwelling-house,  and  his  way  lay  over  the  most 
private  spot  of  a  secluded  and  neglected  heath. 
In  the  deepest  recess  of  this  wild  he  espied  a  pointer 
by  himself,  standing  at  a  covey  of  birds.  He  looked, 
244 


Sporting  Days   and  Sporting  Ways 

admired,  pondered  on  the  wonderful  and  inscrutable 
instincts  of  the  brute  creation,  blessed  himself,  and 
passed  on.  The  cares  and  studies  necessarily  attendant 
upon  his  calling,  however,  soon  expelled  every  vestige 
of  this  occurrence  from  his  mind,  until  he  was 
awakened  to  fresh  admiration  and  benediction  by 
a  renewed  and  stupendous  view  of  the  same  objects. 
Exactly  on  the  above  day  twelvemonth,  passing  the 
same  way,  his  second  astonishment  was  far  greater 
than  the  first,  for  he  saw  upon  the  self-same  spot  the 
dog  pointing  at  the  birds,  in  precisely  the  same  attitude 
he  had  left  both  parties  twelve  months  before  — 
with  this  difference,  however,  that  they  were  then 
living  and  breathing,  one  party  stealthily  circum- 
venting, the  other  apprehending ;  whereas  now  they 
were  in  a  skeleton  state,  fit  for  a  lecture  in  anatomy. 

Strange  peculiarities  have  been  recorded  of  many 
pointers.  One,  a  gormandiser,  for  instance,  had 
to  be  lowered  by  two  or  three  days'  fasting  before 
work ;  and  it  was  no  easy  task  to  do  this,  as  he  would 
eat  trash  of  any  sort  or  kind,  from  shoe-leather  to 
the  horny  part  of  a  horse's  hoof.  It  was  indeed  diffi- 
cult to  reduce  him  so  as  to  reap  the  advantages 
of  his  singularly  good  qualities  in  the  field.  Some  had 
wonderful  sagacity  in  so  managing  matters,  and 
particularly  in  hedgework,  as  to  get  round  the  game 
and  to  turn  it  out  on  the  gun  side.  One  would 
point  the  game  through  the  loose  stone  walls  on  the 
wolds  in  Gloucestershire.  The  most  extraordinary 
pointer  of  all,  however,  was  one  which  stood  a  covey 
of  birds  whilst  topping  a  gate,  having  so  instantane- 
245 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

ously  checked  himself  in  his  career  as  to  maintain 
his  point,  a  circumstance  almost  unrivalled  in  singu- 
larity by  his  master's  bringing  down  six  of  the  covey 
the  moment  they  rose,  at  a  single  shot. 

"  I  have  a  fine  pointer,"  said  a  gentleman  to  his 
friend,  "  staunch  as  can  be  at  birds,  but  I  cannot  break 
him  from  sheep."  The  reply  was  that  the  best  means 
were  to  couple  him  to  the  horn  of  an  old  ram,  and 
leave  them  in  a  stable  all  night,  and  the  discipline  he 
would  receive  would  prevent  his  loving  field  mutton 
again.  The  same  person,  meeting  the  owner  of  the 
dog  some  time  afterwards,  accosted  him  thus  :  "  Well, 
sir,  your  pointer  now  is  the  best  in  England,  no  doubt, 
from  my  prescription."  "  Much  the  same,  sir,  for 
he  killed  my  ram  and  ate  a  shoulder  !  " 

A  sporting  parson  in  Wiltshire  possessed  a  pointer 
that  was  the  admiration  of  the  whole  county.  A 
nobleman,  very  fond  of  sport,  admired  the  dog  much, 
and  wished  to  have  him.  The  clergyman  observed 
this,  and  hearing  that  his  lordship  had  some  church 
preferments  in  his  gift  was  not  backward  in  display- 
ing his  dog.  "  He  certainly  points  well,"  said  his 
lordship.  "  Yes,"  replied  the  parson,  "  he  does,  but 
I'll  tell  your  lordship  how  it  is ;  he  is  a  hungry  dog, 
and  points  for  a  living."  His  lordship  took  the  hint, 
and  made  the  dog  his  own. 

Colonel  Thornton's  pointers,  Pluto  and  Juno,  were, 
it  was  declared,  sketched  by  Gilpin  the  artist,  on 
account  of  having  kept  their  point  upwards  of  one 
hour  and  a  quarter.  This  story  excited  much  amuse- 
ment amongst  sportsmen. 

246 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

About  1805  the  first  bob-tailed  pointer  was  bred 
by  Mr.  Tayleure,  of  Meeson  Hall,  Salop,  who  gave 
Mr.  Picken,  of  Sidney,  two  whelps  by  his  own  dog, 
Carlow,  who  was  not  of  the  bob-tail  breed.  Both 
whelps  turned  out  well,  but  Patch,  a  bitch,  was  an 
extraordinary  animal.  She  was  trained  by,  and  was 
the  property  of,  Mr.  Duncalfe,  who  then  had  the 
management  of  the  Duke  of  Sutherland's  game  on 
his  Shropshire  estates,  and  no  man  better  understood 
the  business  he  had  undertaken  than  he.  He  was  an 
excellent  shot,  and  often  went  out  with  John 
Crutchley,  the  head  keeper,  a  man  of  great  vigil- 
ance, courage,  and  activity,  and  a  good  marksman. 
There  is  an  anecdote  told  of  him  ;  it  was  in  the 
days  of  flint  and  steel,  when  hanging  fire  and  flash- 
in-the-pan  were  more  frequent  than  desirable.  One 
drizzling  day,  when  powder  would  be  moist,  John 
made  a  decided  poke  at  a  snipe  that  was  wheeling 
round  him  ;  the  trigger  obeyed  the  finger,  but  igni- 
tion was  slow — 'twas  a  "  spluttering  hang."  "  I  shall 
have  thee  presently,"  he  quietly  muttered,  still 
dangling  the  gun  and  keeping  his  aim,  until  "Bang!" — 
the  bird  fell. 

Patch  was  the  admiration  of  all  sportsmen 
that  saw  her  either  in  field  or  covert.  The  Due 
d'Angouleme,  when  exiled  in  England,  frequently 
visited  the  Duke's  woods ;  and  so  pleased  was  he 
with  her  performances  that,  on  seeing  Mr.  Duncalfe, 
who  always  attended  him,  Patch  not  being  out,  his 
Royal  Highness  would  anxiously  exclaim,  "  Where 
is  de  Patch,  de  delightful  Patch  ?  " 
247 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Owing  to  various  causes,  perhaps  chiefly  owing 
to  the  perfection  of  modern  guns,  more  men  shoot 
well  now  than  was  formerly  the  case,  and  some  of  the 
long  shots  which  certain  experts  make  with  ease 
make  one  feel  inclined  to  sympathise  with  that  Irish 
servant  who,  after  his  master  had  brought  down  a 
very  high  pheasant,  shouted  out,  "  Arrah,  your 
honour,  need  not  have  shot ;  the  fall  would  have 
killed  him." 

Most  of  the  old-fashioned  sportsmen  did  not  care 
to  attempt  long  shots  at  all ;  their  object  was  to 
risk  missing  as  little  as  possible,  for  loading  was  not 
then  the  easy  task  which  it  has  long  since  become. 

The  old  guns  sometimes  did  great  execution.  In 
September,  1823,  for  instance,  a  gentleman  who  was 
shooting  near  Allonby,  Cumberland,  raised  a  covey 
of  twelve  partridges.  The  wind  literally  blew  a  gale, 
and  just  as  he  fired  a  gust  wheeled  the  covey 
suddenly  round,  concentrating  it  very  considerably, 
and  ten  birds  fell  to  the  ground.  The  sportsman 
immediately  fired  his  other  barrel  and  brought 
down  the  remaining  brace. 

As  a  rule  the  bags  made  by  sportsmen  of  other  days 
were  moderate,  according  to  a  modern  estimate,  but, 
all  things  considered,  some  very  creditable  records  were 
made. 

At  Holkham,  in  1811,  when  several  first-class  shots 
were  staying  with  Mr.  Coke,  the  party  killed  : 

Pheasants 264 

Partridges   ..          ..          ..          ..314 

248 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Woodcocks           29 

Snipes         . .          . .          . .          . .  46 

Hares           . .          . .          . .          . .  283 

Rabbits 371 

Total  killed    . .          . .          . .    1 307 

A  royal  duke,  who  was  one  of  the  guests  on  this 
occasion,  does  not  seem  to  have  done  much  execution 
as  regards  game. 

As  a  military  man  he  appears  to  have  considered 
pheasants  and  partridges  unworthy  of  his  aim,  and  the 
return  made  for  him  was  of  a  different  kind,  being 
as  follows  : 

Killed  of  game — none. 

Wounded  in  the  legs — one  foot  marker,  slightly. 

Wounded  in  the  face — one  groom,  severely. 

Wounded  slightly — one  horse. 

Wounded  on  the  head  of  a  friend — one  hat. 

In  the  eighteenth  century  many  landowners  made 
little  attempt  to  preserve  game  at  all,  and  allowed 
their  neighbours  to  sport  over  their  estates  at  will. 
On  one  property,  belonging  to  a  certain  nobleman, 
the  officers  from  a  neighbouring  garrison  town  had 
for  long  years  past  been  permitted  to  shoot  over  the 
land  of  a  noble  lord  who  seldom  visited  that  portion 
of  his  property.  The  privilege  of  shooting  had  indeed 
come  to  be  regarded  as  a  military  right,  and  so  when 
the  peer  in  question  died  a  certain  captain,  very  fond 
of  sport,  did  not  trouble  to  ask  permission  of  his 
249 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

successor,  but  with  dogs  and  gun  set  out  as  usual 
one  fine  September  morning.  The  new  owner, 
however,  was  a  man  of  irascible  character,  and  re- 
sented what  he  deemed  to  be  an  intrusion  when  he 
caught  sight  of  the  uninvited  sportsman.  Flying 
into  a  passion,  he  sent  for  his  gamekeeper,  and  directed 
him  to  go  instantly  and  shoot  the  stranger's  two  dogs. 
The  man  knew  the  character  of  his  master,  and  from 
his  tone  and  manner  saw  that  he  must  be  obeyed. 
He  rode  off  to  the  spot,  addressed  the  sportsman, 
apologised,  but  said  he  dared  not  go  back  to  his  lord- 
ship till  the  order  be  carried  out.  The  captain  ex- 
postulated ;  and  at  length,  pointing  to  one  of  his 
dogs,  requested  as  a  favour  that  the  gamekeeper  would 
kill  that  one  first.  The  shot  was  fired,  and  the  poor 
dog  fell.  The  captain,  who  carried  a  double-barrelled 
gun,  instantly  advanced,  and  coolly  discharged  his 
piece  through  the  gamekeeper's  horse.  "  Now," 
said  he,  addressing  the  fellow,  who  was  all  astonish- 
ment and  terror,  "  this  is  horse  for  dog ;  fire  again, 
and  it  shall  be  man  for  dog."  The  invitation  was, 
of  course,  declined.  "  And  now,"  he  continued,  "  go 
back  to  your  rascally  master,  describe  what  you  have 
seen,  give  him  this  card,  and  tell  him  that  wherever 
I  find  him  in  country  or  in  town,  I  will  horsewhip 
him  from  that  spot  to  the  threshold  of  his  own  door." 
The  noble  lord  was  early  the  next  morning  on  his 
way  to  London,  and  did  not  return  to  his  country 
residence  until  the  captain's  regiment  had  been 
ordered  to  a  distant  part  of  the  country. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  par- 
250 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

tridges  were  looked  upon  as  an  inferior  sort  of  game 
in  Scotland,  the  grouse  being  the  all-engrossing 
pursuit  with  the  resident  gentry,  who  had  not  generally 
by  any  means  got  into  the  habit  of  letting  their  hills  ; 
so  that,  comparatively  speaking,  they  escaped  with 
impunity.  In  those  times  there  was  not  a  pheasant 
in  the  country — Lord  Willoughby  D'Eresby,  then 
Mr.  Drummond  Burrell,  when  he  married  the 
heiress  of  the  House  of  Perth,  and  came  to  reside  at 
Drummond  Castle,  being  the  first  who  introduced 
them.  No  country  was  better  adapted,  as,  although 
skirted  by  the  Grampian,  Orchill,  and  Stormont 
Mountains,  it  was  entirely  a  corn  one,  interspersed 
with  numerous  natural  coppices  and  almost  endless 
plantations.  In  such  a  fine  situation,  and  under  the 
best  care,  they  soon  prospered ;  and  the  other  great 
proprietors  for  the  most  part  taking  the  hint,  more  or 
less,  they  spread  all  over  the  district,  and  became  as 
fairly  naturalised  as  in  any  part  of  the  Island. 

One  of  the  first  great  game  preservers  in  England 
was  Lord  Pembroke,  who,  about  1804,  at  Wilton, 
reared  a  great  many  pheasants  for  that  day,  and  used 
to  take  great  care  in  breeding  them.  When  a  hen- 
pheasant  laid  eggs  away  he  would  give  a  shilling  for 
every  one  of  her  eggs  brought  to  Wilton  House.  His 
cocks,  of  course,  used  to  stray,  and  very  often  appeared 
in  farmyards,  where  they  would  attack  the  chanticleer 
of  the  yard. 

One  farmer  who  bred  chickens  for  the  Bath  and 
Salisbury  markets,  in  order  to  keep  the  raiders  in 
check,  put  steel  spurs  on  certain  cocks  he  could  depend 
251 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

upon,  with  the  result  that  he  sometimes  got  a  plump 
pheasant  for  dinner. 

"  On  the  whole,"  as  he  said,  Lord  Pembroke's 
love  of  breeding  pheasants  did  him  more  good  than 
harm,  for,  owing  to  the  intercourse  between  his 
lordship's  wild  birds  and  his  own  birds,  he  obtained  a 
continual  succession  of  the  finest  game  chickens  in  the 
whole  country. 

At  that  time  there  hung  at  the  "  Pembroke  Arms  " 
a  small  picture  called  "  Morland's  Pheasant,"  painted 
by  the  artist  from  life  when  he  had  been  at  Wilton,  in 
1794,  at  which  time  Morland  had  stayed  at  the  inn 
for  many  weeks  in  order  to  recover  his  health.  This 
little  jewel  of  painting  was  inscribed  "  G.  Morland, 
1794."  It  would  be  curious  to  know  in  whose  hands 
it  is  now. 

In  the  western  part  of  Suffolk,  in  1811,  a  number  of 
sporting  landowners  formed  an  association,  the  object 
of  which  was  ironically  described  as  being  the  pre- 
vention of  every  one  but  themselves  from  having  any 
kind  of  game  at  their  tables.  Those  ladies  and  gentle- 
men who  were  not  so  fortunate  as  to  rent  or  be  in 
possession  of  manors  or  estates  were  therefore  advised 
to  introduce  poached  eggs  as  a  substitute  for  pheasants 
and  partridges. 

The  increase  of  game  which  occurred  at  the 
beginning  of  the  nineteenth  century  led  to  a  certain 
reaction  against  preserving.  In  1812,  for  instance, 
many  noblemen,  gentlemen,  and  other  landowners, 
in  Staffordshire,  held  a  meeting,  and  resolved  to 
destroy  all  the  game  and  rabbits  on  their  estates,  on 
252 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

account  of  the  large  quantity  of  corn  which  they 
consumed. 

The  Kentish  Gazette,  of  4th  September  of  that  year, 
contained  a  remarkable  advertisement  to  much  the 
same  effect : 

"  GAME  AND  RABBITS. — A  general  invitation  to 
qualified  gentlemen. — Manor  of  Dennie,  alias  Dane, 
in  the  parishes  of  Chilham  and  Molash.  The  interest 
of  agriculture  on  this  manor,  and  the  surrounding 
country,  being  much  injured  by  the  great  number  of 
hares,  pheasants,  and  rabbits,  the  proprietor  feels  the 
necessity  of  giving  this  general  invitation  to  qualified 
gentlemen  to  sport  at  their  pleasure.  The  manor- 
house  is  in  the  parish  of  Chilham,  very  near  to  a 
place  called  Shottenton  Thorn,  and  John  Packman,  a 
servant,  who  resides  there,  has  orders  to  accommodate 
gentlemen  as  well  as  he  can  with  stabling  for  their 
horses,  and  with  any  refreshment  for  themselves, 
that  his  homely  mode  of  living  can  offer.  The  house 
is  large,  and  a  limited  number  of  gentlemen,  by 
sending  their  own  bedding,  may  be  accommodated 
with  house-room  in  this  or  future  shooting  seasons." 

In  the  early  days  of  game  preserving  there  was 
much  rivalry  between  the  keepers  on  different  estates. 
An  annual  meeting  of  Suffolk  gamekeepers  used  to 
be  held  at  Bury  in  December,  for  the  purpose 
of  awarding  a  large  silver  powder  flask  to  the  keeper 
who  should  produce  the  certificates  for  the  greatest 
numbers  of  hares,  pheasants,  and  partridges  shot  at,  as 
253 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting 

well  as  killed,  during  any  six  days,  from  8th  October 
to  8th  December.  In  1811  Richard  Sharnton  delivered 
vouchers  for  the  following  list,  and  obtained  the 
prize.  The  prize  was  given  upon  a  comparison  of 
the  sport,  estimating  the  number  of  guns,  and  the 
extent  of  land  in  strict  preserve.  Sharnton's  list 
averaged  three  guns,  and  his  extent  of  preserve  four 
thousand  acres. 

Killed.      Missed. 

Cock-Pheasants    . .          . .  378  199 

Hen-Pheasants     ..          ..  51  33 

Partridges 506  301 

Hares         177  94 

Total  shots  1739,  nearly  300  a  day  ! 

Sharnton  afterwards  produced  the  account  of  the 
vermin  and  birds  of  prey  that  he  had  destroyed  in  the 
last  twelve  months.     Sharnton  had  but  two  under- 
keepers. 

Foxes  . .          . .          . .          . .       22 

Martens       . .          . .          . .          . .         3 

Polecats 31 

Stoats          . .          . .          . .          . .     446 

Crows  and  Magpies  ..          ..      120 

Hawks  of  all  kinds 167 

Field  Rats 310 

Brown  Owls  . .          . .          . .        13 

WildCats 7 

In  the  days  when  keepers  not  infrequently  had  to 
risk  their  lives  there  were  many  families  in  which  they 
254 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

occupied  the  position  of  old  and  trusted  servants, 
who  were  generally  prominent  figures  in  the  elaborate 
funerals  of  great  landowners  of  other  days. 

At  the  funeral  of  the  last  Lord  Egremont  twelve 
gamekeepers  flanked  the  head  of  the  procession,  which 
was  ended  by  four  hundred  Sussex  labourers  in  the 
beautiful  old  smock-frocks  which  the  modern  rustic  is 
foolish  enough  to  disdain. 

Lord  Egremont's  funeral  was  worthy  of  an  old 
English  nobleman,  who  had  lived  and  died  respected 
by  the  countryside  about  his  hospitable  mansion. 
Entirely  pedestrian,  it  first  of  all  proceeded  round 
Petworth  House,  the  coffin  being  drawn  by  sixteen 
men. 

Many  gamekeepers  were  privileged  individuals. 
Such  a  one  was  Hawkesworth,  who  was  in  the  service 
of  Mr.  Coke  at  Holkham — a  most  eccentric  man. 
He  never  associated  with  or  spoke  to  any  person, 
unless  he  was  first  addressed.  He  was  very  penurious, 
had  accumulated  a  considerable  fortune,  which  he 
had  hid  from  the  fear  of  invasion ;  and  his  death, 
at  the  age  of  seventy,  was  supposed  to  be  occasioned 
by  depriving  himself  of  sufficient  nourishment.  Mr. 
Coke  always  furnished  him  with  proper  liveries ; 
but  his  dress  was  of  the  most  miserable  kind,  and  he 
always  wore  an  old  painted  hat,  patched  over  with 
pieces  of  cloth.  The  liveries  he  had  by  him  at  the 
time  of  his  death,  and  which  had  never  been  worn, 
are  supposed  to  have  been  worth  £100.  He  was  known 
by  the  title  of  the  "  Walking  Obelisk." 

Another  keeper  at  Holkham  was  old  Joe  Hibbert, 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

who  had  been  a  prize-fighter  in  his  youth.  On  one 
occasion  Sir  John  Shelley,  who  was  celebrated  for  his 
neat  sparring,  challenged  Hibbert  to  a  set-to  with  the 
gloves,  and  some  young  men  mischievously  promised 
Joe  a  good  tip  if  he  would  administer  a  little  punish- 
ment to  Sir  John.  Joe  put  on  the  gloves,  but  soon 
drew  them  off  again,  and  turning  round  upon  his 
backers,  exclaimed,  "  Not  for  twice  the  money  would 
I  strike  a  gentleman." 

A  great  character  amongst  gamekeepers  was  Mr. 
Flower  Archer,  one  of  the  King's  Keepers  of  the  New 
Forest,  who  died,  aged  eighty-six,  in  1813.  He  had  ex- 
pressed a  great  wish  that  he  might  be  buried  with  all 
his  clothes  on;  to  be  conveyed  to  the  grave  in  his  own 
cart ;  and  that  half  a  hogshead  of  strong  beer,  and 
cakes  for  every  one  present,  should  follow  the  pro- 
cession, and  that  his  body  should  remain  one  hour 
on  the  church  hill,  in  order  that  the  cakes  and  beer 
might  be  distributed.  Singular  and  eccentric  as  was 
his  desire,  it  was  rigidly  adhered  to,  and  strictly 
observed. 

Here  and  there,  scattered  through  village  church- 
yards, are  monuments  and  inscriptions  testifying 
to  the  esteem  in  which  gamekeepers  were  held  in 
the  past  by  their  masters. 

Against  the  north  wall  of  Harefield  Church,  Middle- 
sex, on  the  outside,  was,  and  perhaps  still  is,  a  monu- 
ment, with  a  representation  in  bas-relief  of  a  game- 
keeper and  his  dog,  put  up  by  Mr.  Ashby,  in  memory 
of  his  faithful  servant  Robert  Mossendew,  who  died 
in  1744-  Underneath  are  the  following  lines : 
256 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

In  frost  and  snow,  thro'  hail  and  rain, 

He  scour'd  the  woods,  and  trudg'd  the  plain ; 

The  steady  pointer  leads  the  way, 

Stands  at  the  scent,  then  springs  his  prey  ; 

The  tim'rous  birds  from  stubble  rise, 

With  pinions  stretch'd  divide  the  skies — 

The  scatter'd  lead  pursues  the  sight, 

And  death,  in  thunder,  stops  their  flight  ; 

His  spaniel,  of  true  English  kind, 

With  gratitude  inflames  his  mind  : 

This  servant  in  an  honest  way, 

In  all  his  actions  copied  Tray. 

Another  epitaph  on  a  dog  ran  thus  : 

To  one,  through  all  a  chequered  life,  alone, 

That,  of  the  many,  I  have  faithful  known, 

Whose  joy  alike,  should  good  or  ill  betide, 

Was  still  to  linger  fondly  at  my  side ; 

While  the  fix'd  eye,  with  look  of  rapture  fraught, 

Proclaim'd  a  love  beyond  all  common  thought : — 

Whom  no  caprice  could  weary,  slight  estrange, 

And,  more  than  all,  whom  years  could  never  change  : 

The  blithe  companion,  and  the  friend  sincere — 

A  grateful  tribute  I  would  offer  here !  .  .  . 

Are  there  who  pause,  as  doubting  such  might  be 

In  woman's  love,  or  man's  fidelity, 

And  seek  to  learn  in  whom  such  virtues  were  ?  .  .   . 

Turn,  and  behold  the  answer  graven  there ! 

It  was  by  no  means  unusual  to  commemorate  the 
memory  of  some  favourite  dog  by  a  picture  or 
tablet. 

At  Bio'  Norton  Hall,  Norfolk,  a  perfect  specimen 
of  the  smaller  kind  of  manor-house,  now  happily  occu- 
pied by  a  great  authority  on  local  archaeology,  and  also 
a  first-rate  shot,  Prince  Frederick  Dhuleep  Singh,  hangs 
s  257 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

a  quaint  oil  painting  of  a  sporting  dog,  on  which  are 
inscribed  the  words,  "  Oh  Rare  Blackwinder." 

Formerly  the  following  epitaphs  on  dogs  were  to  be 
seen  under  Euston  Park  wall,  not  far  from  the  house. 
I  am  unaware  whether  they  still  exist  to-day  : 

TROUNCER, 

1788, 

Foxes  rejoice  ! 
Here,  buried,  lies  your  foe. 


GARLAND, 

The  spotless  rival  of  her 

Grandsire's 

Fame. 


A  faithful  and  singularly  intelligent  spaniel  (DUCHESS) 
lies  buried  beneath  this  wall ;  she  was  killed  by 
an  accidental  shot  while  performing  her  duty  in 
the  Decoy  Carr  in  the  month  of  January,  1813. 


Surely  the  faithful  dog  is  as  deserving  of  some 
memorial  as  many  men. 

The  companion  of  man,  since  the  days  when  our 
feeble  ancestors  of  remote  antiquity  lived  in  caves,  he 
certainly  ranks  second  amongst  God's  creatures. 

The  prominent  features  of  his  character  are  fondness 
and  fidelity.  There  is  no  humbug  about  him  :  he 
never  takes  offence,  and  bears  no  malice,  but  accommo- 
258 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

dates  himself  to  all  one's  tastes  and  humours.  If 
you  are  disposed  to  be  serious,  or  there  is  business  to 
be  done,  tell  him  to  "  lie  down  "  and,  throwing  him- 
self at  your  feet,  he  waits  for  hours  in  a  state  of  the 
most  perfect  quiescence.  If  you  are  in  gayer  mood, 
give  but  the  joyous  signal,  and  he  executes  gambol 
after  gambol,  indicative  of  such  strength  and  activity 
that  you  wonder  how  such  a  thing  of  life  could  lie  still 
so  long. 

In  courtesy  and  gentleness  of  heart  he  yields  neither 
to  the  most  accomplished  courtier  nor  to  the  mistress 
of  your  heart. 

An  extraordinary  instance  of  canine  fidelity  occurred 
about  a  hundred  years  ago  in  London.  A  poor  tailor, 
who  lived  in  the  parish  of  St.  Olave,  Tooley  Street, 
Borough,  died  and  left  a  small  cur  dog  inconsolable 
for  his  loss.  The  little  animal  would  not  leave  his 
dead  master,  not  even  for  food  ;  and  whatever  he 
ate  was  forced  to  be  placed  in  the  same  room  with  the 
corpse.  When  the  body  was  removed  for  burial,  this 
faithful  attendant  followed  the  coffin.  After  the 
funeral,  he  was  hunted  out  of  the  churchyard  by  the 
sexton,  who,  the  next  day,  again  found  the  animal, 
who  had  made  his  way  by  some  unaccountable  means 
into  the  enclosure,  and  had  dug  himself  a  bed  on  the 
grave  of  his  master.  Once  more  he  was  hunted  out, 
and  again  he  was  found  in  the  same  situation  on  the 
following  day.  The  clergyman  of  the  parish,  hearing 
of  the  circumstance,  had  him  caught,  taken  home,  and 
fed,  and  endeavoured  by  every  means  to  win  the 
animal's  affections :  but  they  were  wedded  to  his 
259 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

late  master  ;  and,  in  consequence,  he  took  the  first 
opportunity  to  escape  and  regain  his  lonely  situation. 
With  true  benevolence  the  worthy  clergyman  per- 
mitted him  to  follow  the  bent  of  his  inclinations ;  but, 
to  soften  the  rigour  of  his  fate,  he  built  him  upon  the 
grave  a  small  kennel,  which  was  replenished  once  a  day 
with  food  and  water.  Two  years  did  this  example  of 
fidelity  pass  in  this  manner,  when  death  put  an  end 
to  his  grief.  The  enlightened  philanthropy  of  the 
good  clergyman  allowed  his  remains  an  asylum  with  his 
beloved  master. 

Probably  the  greatest  lover  of  dogs  who  ever  lived 
was  a  gentleman  who  died,  aged  seventy- two,  in  1805, 
in  his  house  at  Knightsbridge,  where  he  had  resided  for 
twenty  years.  A  very  singular  character,  he  literally 
worshipped  the  canine  race,  which  he  certainly  had 
good  reason  to  do,  his  life,  when  travelling  on  the 
Continent,  having  been  saved  by  a  dog  preventing  his 
assassination.  Up  to  almost  the  very  end  of  his  life  this 
gentleman  never  was  without  four  or  five  very  large 
ones  of  the  setter  kind,  lineally  descended  from  the 
very  dog  that  saved  his  life.  At  last,  the  old  stock  was 
reduced  to  one,  and  the  others  were  in  some  degree 
supplied  by  a  small  terrier  and  an  enormous  dog  of 
the  Albany  breed.  They  were  fed  and  lodged  in 
sumptuous  style ;  beefsteaks,  buttered  rolls,  ginger- 
bread, and  pastry  were  no  uncommon  diet  for  them  ; 
and,  as  to  lodging,  one  or  two  slept  in  the  room  with 
himself ;  the  others  were  provided  with  mattresses 
in  other  apartments  of  his  house.  He  kept  two  lads 
to  wait  on  them  ;  and,  at  stated  hours,  however  bad 
260 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  weather,  and  in  spite  of  every  other  consideration, 
he  himself  took  them  out  for  air  and  exercise ;  the 
last  of  those  hours  was  between  one  and  two  in  the 
morning,  which  necessarily  kept  him  up  almost  all 
night.  In  addition  to  the  dogs  he  kept,  he  had,  as  he 
termed  them,  a  great  many  pensioners,  that  regularly 
came,  some  from  a  great  distance,  to  be  fed  daily  at 
his  door  ;  and  frequently,  when  he  met  a  half-starved 
dog  in  his  walks,  he  would  take  him  to  a  confec- 
tioner's, and  treat  him  with  a  shilling's-worth  of 
tarts ;  or,  if  a  hawker  of  dogs'  meat  chanced  to  be 
near,  to  a  more  substantial  meal  of  horseflesh. 
When  any  one  of  his  dogs  died,  it  was  placed  in  a 
kind  of  coffin — laid  in  state  for  a  day  or  two,  with 
wax  candles  burning  around,  whilst  this  dog  lover  sat 
in  a  disconsolate  mood  beside  it — after  which  it  was 
interred  with  great  solemnity.  On  such  occasions  the 
chief  mourner  generally  wrote  an  elegy,  descriptive 
of  the  beauty  and  qualities  of  his  departed  friend,  the 
dog.  By  his  last  will  he  bequeathed  .£25  a  year  to 
each  of  the  dogs  that  were  living  at  the  time  of  his 
decease.  His  whole  family  consisted  of  his  canine 
friends,  the  two  boys  already  mentioned,  and  an  old 
woman.  He  had  an  utter  aversion  to  physic,  and 
allowed  no  one  to  approach  him  in  his  last  moments. 
Notwithstanding  his  whole  affection  seemed  to  be 
settled  on  his  dogs,  yet  he  was  not  devoid  of  feeling  for 
the  human  race,  and  many  an  indigent  and  unfortu- 
nate object  had  good  reason  to  lament  his  death. 


261 


IX 


TN  the  eighteenth  century  people  were  not  very 
particular  as  to  whose  land  they  shot  over. 

In  1798  the  neighbourhood  of  Newmarket  was 
considerably  perturbed  at  the  doings  of  a  sportsman 
who  had  already  attracted  some  attention  at  the 
previous  October  meeting.  The  gentleman  in  ques- 
tion, who  was  accompanied  by  a  lady  of  dashing 
appearance,  travelled  about  in  a  gig  with  a  couple  of 
pointers  and  two  guns.  With  this  equipage  he  had 
made  the  journey  from  London  to  Newmarket, 
shooting  on  every  manor  he  came  to ;  but  as  he  was 
warned  off  the  grounds  of  the  various  landowners  in 
his  way,  that  he  might  enjoy  the  same  pleasure  on  his 
return,  he  chose  to  proceed  a  different  road  for  that 
purpose. 

His  fair  companion  appeared  to  be  very  fond  of  the 
pointers,  and  was  a  good  markswoman,  as  was  observed 
by  a  keeper,  who  had  seen  her  make  a  remarkably 
good  cross  shot  in  his  master's  park. 

At  one  time  the  Eton  boys  used  to  enliven  the  round 
of  scholastic  toil  by  occasional  poaching.  Of  course, 
this  was  strictly  prohibited,  and  many  a  boy  was 
severely  punished  for  his  love  of  the  gun.  Young 
Lord  Baltimore  and  a  friend  were  once  caught  on  a 
poaching  expedition  by  one  of  the  masters,  who 
came  up  quickly  enough  to  one  of  them  to  discover 
262 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

who  he  was ;  the  other,  perhaps  having  quicker  heels, 
got  off  unknown.  The  detected  culprit  was  flogged 
pretty  severely,  and  threatened  with  repetitions  of 
the  same  discipline  if  he  did  not  discover  his  com- 
panion ;  this,  however,  he  persisted  in  refusing  in 
spite  of  repeated  punishment.  His  companion, 
who  was  confined  to  his  room  at  his  boarding-house 
by  a  sore  throat,  which  he  had  got  by  leaping  into  a 
ditch  to  escape  the  detection  of  the  master,  on 
hearing  with  what  severity  his  friend  of  the  trigger 
was  treated  on  his  account,  went  into  school  with  his 
throat  wrapped  up,  and  very  straightforwardly  told 
the  master  that  he  was  out  shooting  with  the  young 
man  who  with  such  magnanimous  perseverance  had 
refused  to  give  his  name. 

The  pursuit  of  game  was  once  the  subject  of  con- 
siderable solicitude  to  the  legislature,  and  immense 
pains  were  taken  to  frame  enactments  and  regulations 
to  safeguard  everything  relating  to  Royal  sport. 

Some  of  the  old  sporting  laws  were  highly  curious, 
as  were  also  the  tenures  of  land. 

At  Seaton,  in  Kent,  for  instance,  Bertram  de 
Criol  held  the  manor  of  the  King  by  serjeantry,  viz. 
to  provide  one  man  called  Veltrarius,  a  vaulter  to  lead 
three  greyhounds  when  the  King  should  go  into 
Gascony,  so  long  as  a  pair  of  shoes  of  fourteen  pence 
price  should  last. 

At    Mansfield,    in    Nottinghamshire,    Sir    Robert 
Plump  ton   held  an   estate  called  Wolf  hunt,   by  the 
service  of  winding  a  horn,  and  frighting  away  the 
wolves  in  the  forest  of  Sherwood. 
263 


Sporting  Days  a1^d  Sporting 

At  Silbertost,  in  Northamptonshire,  Nicholas  de 
Archer,  in  the  time  of  Edward  I,  held  by  the  service  of 
carrying  the  King's  bow  through  all  the  forests  in 
England. 

At  Luton,  in  Devonshire,  William  de  Albemarle 
held  the  manor  of  Loston,  by  serjeantry  of  finding 
for  "  our  lord  the  King  "  two  arrows  and  one  loaf  of 
oat  bread,  when  he  should  hunt  in  the  forest  of 
Dartmoor. 

In  connection  with  the  subject  of  ancient  sporting 
usages,  the  following  terms,  now  more  or  less  obsolete, 
once  used  in  connection  with  the  carving  of  game, 
may  be  of  interest : 

Unlace  a  hare  or  rabbit ;  wing  a  partridge  or 
quail ;  allay  a  pheasant  or  teal ;  dismember  a  hern  ; 
thigh  a  woodcock  ;  display  a  crane  ;  lift  a  swan. 

Next  to  war  the  chase  was  in  feudal  days  considered 
to  be  the  most  fitting  occupation  for  a  great  noble, 
and  considerable  glamour  hung  about  everything  con- 
nected with  it.  This  idea  spreading  to  the  people  no 
doubt  augmented  the  number  of  those  who,  braving 
severe  penalty,  surreptitiously  captured  game. 

Amongst  the  country  folk  of  old  England  the  village 
poacher  was  often  regarded  as  half  a  hero,  the  ex- 
istence of  regular  gangs  being  almost  openly  recognised. 
Sometimes  these  men  were  dangerous  smugglers  as 
well.  A  particular  band,  known  as  the  Johnnies,  once 
quite  devastated  a  west  country  estate  of  game. 
The  heir  to  this  estate,  when  he  came  into  possession, 
did  everything  in  his  power  to  develop  the  great 
sporting  capabilities  of  the  place,  but  for  a  long  time  all 
264 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  If^ays 

was   in  vain,  till   one  day   a   friend  discovered   the 
cause. 

Out  partridge  shooting  one  day  on  a  heath  bounded 
by  the  seashore,  this  gentleman  observed  one  of 
his  pointers  behaving  in  a  very  curious  way,  coming 
to  heel  in  a  cowed  manner.  As  this  heath  was  in- 
fested with  vipers,  he  thought  the  animal  had  shied 
at  one  of  these  reptiles,  and,  turning  to  another 
quarter,  was  encouraging  him  to  resume  his  work, 
when  the  other  ran  towards  him  also,  with  his  tail 
between  his  legs,  and  every  now  and  then  looking 
behind  him  as  in  a  state  of  terror.  On  returning  to  the 
spot  containing  the  cause  of  this  alarm,  a  gruff, 
black-looking  fellow  rose  up  from  the  heather, 
approached  him  without  uttering  a  word,  and  would 
have  interrupted  his  progress.  In  face  of  a  gun, 
however,  the  fellow  made  off,  and  soon  after  the 
gentleman  perceived  what  explained  the  enigma — 
numbers  of  small  casks,  and  other  articles,  indi- 
cating it  to  be  a  temporary  depot  of  smugglers. 
On  the  farther  side  of  this  store  the  gruff  fellow  now 
bawled  with  all  his  might  to  a  companion  of  his, 
who  had  drunk  so  freely  that  he  had  fallen  asleep 
on  his  watch.  The  prostrate  contrabander  at  length 
rose  up,  exhibiting  a  loose,  lank  figure,  with  a  thin, 
meagre  countenance,  nearly  covered  with  yellow  hair. 
"  Johnny,"  said  he,  wiping  his  eyes  and  viewing 
the  gentleman  from  head  to  foot,  "  Johnny,  I  say 
you  be  wrong.  This  gentleman  is  a  friend,  and  there- 
fore we  must  not  '  quesson  '  him,  nor  touch  a  hair  of 
his  head.  All  as  call  themselves  *  Johnny,'  "  added 
265 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

he,  addressing  himself  to  the  sportsman,  "  do  know 
your  honour,  except  this  poor  fellow,  who  has  lately 
joined  us,  after  escaping  from  a  coop  in  Warwickshire. 
You  are  almost  the  only  gentleman  that  frequents  this 
heath,  except  at  cattle  driving.  Often  as  you  have 
been  seen  to  hunt  the  very  spot  where  we  had  placed 
our  smaller  ventures,  we  never  missed  anything  but 
once,  and  we  attributed  the  loss  to  your  having  given 
information.  Our  people  met  on  the  occasion,  and  a 
reward  was  offered  for  the  first  who  should  lay  hold 
of  you.  One  of  our  own  folks,  however,  was  after- 
wards found  to  be  the  thief  ;  and  it  was  then  resolved 
for  your  past  forbearance  you  should  have  a  present 
from  the  first  who  should  fall  in  with  your  honour. 
Here  is  a  cargo  we  landed  last  night,  and  if  you  will 
fix  on  any  one  article  it  shall  be  conveyed  this  evening 
to  your  lodgings,  cost  free."  After  refusing  this  offer 
the  gentleman  returned  home,  pleased  to  a  degree 
that  he  had  not  given  cause  of  offence  to  the  Johnnies, 
many  of  them  hardened  desperadoes,  who  at  times 
assembled  to  the  number  of  eighty  or  more,  and  whose 
connections  extended  from  Dover  to  the  Land's 
End.  One  only  of  the  "  clan  "  did  he  afterwards  meet 
in  his  sporting  rambles,  and  this  man  told  him  that  in 
an  engagement  on  the  Hampshire  coast  with  the 
King's  officers  several  of  their  party  had  been  taken, 
others,  from  their  having  flown  to  foreign  countries, 
outlawed  —  so  the  Company  of  the  Johnnies  had 
been  some  time  broken  up,  and  become  too  dispersed 
ever  to  band  together  again. 

In  its  palmy  days  this  clan  had  particular  signals 
266 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  their  own  when  they  expected  vessels  containing 
contraband  goods,  and  were  perpetually  scouring  the 
country  on  prowling  expeditions.  Some  of  them 
were  so  expert  at  the  twitch  or  switch,  as  they  called 
poaching,  it  was  wonderful  that  any  game  ever  escaped 
them,  for  keepers,  on  account  of  their  desperate 
character,  stood  in  great  awe  of  the  gang. 

After  the  dispersal  of  this  band  of  poachers  the 
game  increased  in  the  district  they  had  haunted  as 
if  by  the  operation  of  magic.  In  covers  where  before 
a  hare  was  scarcely  heard  of,  and  the  pheasant  was  the 
rarest  of  visitors,  both  in  a  few  seasons  were  multiplied 
to  an  amazing  degree.  As  a  result  of  the  disappearance 
of  the  Johnnies,  the  owner  of  the  property,  chiefly  on 
account  of  the  abundance  of  game  on  his  manors,  was 
in  a  few  years  offered  nearly  as  much  again  for  his 
estates  as  they  were  valued  at  when  he  took  possession 
of  them. 

It  was  said  at  the  time  that  the  speedy  increase  of 
game  after  the  disappearance  of  this  band  was  largely 
owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  sea,  it  being  an  old 
theory  that  game  increased  most  rapidly  in  such  dis- 
tricts because  salt  caused  an  increase  in  the  number  of 
eggs.  Pigeons  are  certainly  particularly  fond  of  salt ; 
and  it  was  formerly  thought  to  be  so  enticing  to  them 
that  it  (and  also  a  looking-glass)  was  debarred  by  an 
Act  of  Parliament,  under  a  certain  penalty,  from 
being  placed  in  a  dovecot. 

The  old  poachers  were  very  expert  at  netting  game, 
and  nets  were  also  used  more  or  less  legitimately 
in  the  old  English  rural  sport,  now  probably  ex- 
267 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

tinct,  known  as  "  bat-fowling."  This  was  capturing 
by  night  all  kinds  of  birds  which  roost  in  bushes, 
shrubs,  in  hayricks,  or  under  the  barn  or  stable 
thatch.  The  best  season  for  bat-fowling  was  before 
the  grain  was  cleared  from  the  harvest  fields,  when 
sparrows  forsook  the  barns  and  outhouses  about  the 
farms  for  the  wheat-fields,  where  they  congregated 
in  great  abundance,  and  while  the  season  continued 
fed  voraciously  on  the  new  grain,  until  they  became 
plump  and  fat,  and  of  a  most  delicious  flavour. 
The  time  for  the  exercise  of  the  net  and  the  bat  was 
about  an  hour  after  nightfall,  when  the  over-fed 
and  weary  birds  were  fast  asleep  on  the  roost,  in 
thick  trees,  hawthorn  bushes,  or  old  ruin  of  any 
description,  covered  with  ivy,  a  kind  of  shelter  the 
flocks  mostly  delight  to  resort  to. 

The  netman,  carrying  a  net  secured  to  two  pliant 
rods  with  a  rod  for  closing  it  upon  the  birds,  played 
the  most  important  part  in  this  sport,  assisted  by 
an  individual  with  a  lantern  on  a  pole  to  hold  behind 
the  net,  and  a  batman  to  thrash  the  ivy  or  bushes. 

The  greatest  number  of  birds  secured  by  "  bat- 
fowling "  generally  belonged  to  the  sparrow  tribe, 
and  a  favourite  dish  in  consequence  was  what  was 
called  "  the  autumnal  sparrow  pudding."  The  recipe 
for  this  was  as  follows  : 

Let  the  birds  be  well  picked,  and  a  parsley-leaf  put 
into  each  of  them  ;  then  take  a  thin  rump-steak  or 
veal  cutlet,  on  which  place  your  birds.  Having  applied 
the  proper  seasoning,  lay  thereon  a  slice  of  fresh 
butter,  then  let  your  steak  be  the  envelope,  and  a  good 
268 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

crust  cover  all.  When  the  pudding  is  sufficiently- 
boiled,  place  it  on  the  table  and  open  a  round  hole  at 
the  top. 

The  autumn,  of  course,  was  the  best  season  for 
catching  the  birds,  for  at  the  conclusion  of  the  harvest 
sparrows  are  in  their  primest  condition. 

Reading  was  another  old  sport  which  entailed  the 
use  of  a  net.  It  was  a  good  deal  practised  at  the  period 
when  few  people  were  sufficiently  skilful  shots  to  shoot 
flying,  and  many  a  woodcock  was  caught  in  what  were 
called  roads. 

A  road  was  a  net  fixed  between  two  trees  in  some 
glade  frequented  by  woodcocks  flying  from  their 
resting-place  during  the  day  to  their  feeding-place 
at  night.  Woodcocks  prefer  to  fly  through  some 
avenue,  natural  or  artificial,  at  twilight,  and  a  par- 
ticular ten  minutes  just  before  dusk  used  to  be  called 
reading  time. 

Women  poached  as  well  as  men.  At  the  beginning 
of  the  last  century  Margaret  Taylor,  a  damsel  just 
sweet  seventeen,  who  might  have  sat  for  a  study  to 
Gainsborough  or  Barker,  was  fined  at  Perth  one  pound 
and  expenses  for  illegally  destroying  salmon.  Her 
plan  was  certainly  a  novel  one  :  she  set  two  dogs 
(trained,  it  would  appear,  for  the  purpose)  into  a 
fishing  dam  a  little  below  the  spawning  bed,  while 
she  sat  several  yards  above,  in  the  neck  of  the  little 
stream  which  formed  the  dam,  up  to  her  hips,  while 
her  apron  was  stretched  out  under  the  water.  At  a 
signal  the  dogs  rushed  forward  into  the  dam,  and 
drove  the  fish  up  the  neck  of  the  bourn  (the  Shilligan), 
269 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

which  had  no  other  alternative  than  to  rush  into 
the  extended  receptacle  of  this  Highland  water- 
nymph. 

Another  instance  of  a  young  and  handsome  female, 
whose  name  was  also  Margaret,  being  seized  with  a 
similar  propensity,  though  in  another  line,  occurred 
a  few  years  later  in  the  same  county,  at  the  residence 
of  a  nobleman  who  preserved  extensively.  One  of  the 
fronts  of  the  mansion  looked  into  a  very  beautiful 
retired  lawn  and  pleasure-ground  garnished  with 
some  splendid  trees ;  and  there  the  lady  of  the  place 
was  particularly  fond  of  seeing  the  pheasants  in 
numbers,  consequently  great  care  was  taken  to  disturb 
them  as  little  as  possible.  One  winter,  when  the 
family  was  absent,  the  head  keeper,  in  his  rounds, 
became  aware  that  some  of  the  old  tame  stagers  were 
missing,  and  he  resolved  to  say  nothing,  but  watch 
himself.  The  following  night  he  ensconced  himself 
in  a  large  spruce  tree,  where  he  was  perfectly  hidden, 
but  whence  he  commanded  most  of  the  lawn,  par- 
ticularly a  small  cottage  ornee  which  was  tenanted  only 
by  an  old  gardener  and  his  daughter.  At  daylight 
the  window  of  this  opened,  and  Miss  Margaret 
jumped  out  with  her  lap  full  of  something  which  turned 
out  to  be  corn,  and  three  or  four  rat-traps.  These 
she  put  down  and  baited  in  two  or  three  places  close 
to  where  the  guardian  lay  hid.  She  then  sat  her- 
self down  behind  a  large  tree ;  and  presently  a 
slight  click  and  a  few  struggles  called  her  forth  to 
secure  the  prey.  The  keeper  instantly  descended,  and, 
coming  softly  behind,  took  her  in  the  act  of  loosing 
270 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

a  fine  cock-pheasant  from  the  trap.  Her  confusion 
was  unbounded  ;  and,  being  severely  threatened,  she 
admitted  that  her  sweetheart,  a  suspected  poacher, 
who  made  himself  scarce  in  consequence,  had  put  her 
up  to  it.  As  her  father  was  an  old  workman  of  years' 
standing,  nothing  was  done  to  her  except  being  sent  out 
to  service. 

On  the  other  hand  there  were  women  who  did 
good  service  in  assisting  to  preserve  game. 

A  curious  character  at  Holkham  at  one  time  was 
Polly  Fishbourne,  keeper  of  the  church  lodge.  She 
had  large  black  eyes,  red  cheeks,  and  white  teeth,  her 
hair  was  cropped  like  a  man's,  and  she  wore  a  man's 
hat.  The  rest  of  her  attire  was  feminine.  She  was 
irreproachable  in  character,  and,  indeed,  somewhat  of  a 
prude.  Polly  was  the  terror  of  poachers,  with  whom 
she  had  frequent  encounters,  and  would  give  and 
take  hard  knocks,  but  generally  succeeded  in  capturing 
her  opponents  and  making  them  answer  for  their 
misdeeds  at  petty  sessions. 

A  Norfolk  game  preserver  once  offered  Polly  a 
shilling  apiece  for  a  hundred  pheasants'  eggs.  She 
nodded  her  head.  Soon  after  she  brought  Mr.  Coke 
a  five-pound  note.  "  There,  squire,"  said  she,  "  is 
the  price  of  one  hundred  of  your  guinea-fowls'  eggs." 
Of  course,  the  squire  made  Polly  keep  the  five-pound 
note. 

Polly  was  the  daughter  of  a  gamekeeper.     She  had 

commenced    her    career    by    being    kitchen-maid    at 

Holkham,  and  as  such  did  her  duty  very  well  till  she 

heard  a  shot  fired,  when  down  would  go  the  saucepans, 

271 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

and  Polly,  jumping  over  the  kitchen  table,  would  be 
off. 

All  sorts  of  warnings  against  trespass  and  poaching 
were  to  be  seen  about  the  countryside — most  of 
them  threatening,  but  a  few  whimsical.  About  the 
quaintest  of  the  latter  was  the  poetical  effusion  which 
Richard  Wheeler,  gamekeeper  to  a  landowner  near 
Faringdon,  placed  on  a  board  at  the  entrance  to  one 
of  his  master's  preserves  : 

The  game  on  this  estate's  preserved, 

Take  notice  all  encroachers, 
And  be  it  also  well  observed 

Death's  poaching  here  for  poachers. 

In  1823  some  desperate  encounters  took  place  in 
Norfolk  between  poachers  and  gamekeepers.  Two 
of  the  latter,  in  the  service  of  Lord  Bayning,  at 
Honingham,  were  terribly  beaten  by  a  certain  gang, 
all  of  whom  escaped.  In  the  morning  were  found 
some  pea-makes,  which  the  poachers  had  used  as 
weapons.  They  were  left  on  the  spot  with  defiant 
verses  attached.  Some  of  the  lines  ran  as  follows  : 

Come,  hear,  all  ye  jovial  poachers, 

What  I  am  going  to  write, 

'Tis  of  a  small  engagement 

Happened  the  other  night. 

There  was  twelve  then  of  the  poachers 

So  quickly  you  shall  hear  ; 

Lord  Bayning's  watch  daren't  not  come  nigh, 

But  hid  themselves  for  fear. 

At  the  end  of  a  long  effusion  in  the  same  strain 
was  : 

272 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

"  I  hope  you  will  get  your  forks  made  stronger  ;  we 
shall  thank  you  for  them  again  in  a  week  or  two." 

In  this  district  poachers  assembled  in  such  numbers 
as  to  defy  opposition. 

In  Norfolk  at  one  time  poaching  was  looked  upon 
by  a  large  section  of  the  people  as  being  quite  legiti- 
mate. 

A  gentleman  walked  into  the  shop  of  a  large  dealer 
in  game  in  a  market  town  in  that  county,  and  having 
known  the  man  for  some  time,  there  was  not  that 
reserve  on  his  part  that  a  stranger  might  have  met 
with.  In  the  course  of  conversation,  it  being  early 
in  September,  and  the  moon  just  past  "  the  full,"  he 
enquired  how  the  supply  of  game  and  the  demand  for  it 
tallied.  "  Why,  sir,"  said  the  man,  "  at  present  it 
comes  to  hand  rather  slowly ;  the  gentlemen  have 
not  quite  done  away  with  the  old  custom  of  giving  it 
away,  and  at  present  I  have  received  very  little 
through  any  other  channel  .  .  .  there  has  been  so 
much  moonlight  lately;  but  next  week  I  expect 
plenty."  Keeping  this  in  mind,  about  ten  days  after- 
wards another  visit  was  made,  and  to  the  enquiry 
of  how  his  prophecy  had  been  fulfilled,  he  replied, 
"  No  trouble  to  serve  my  customers  now,  sir ;  I 
have  more  than  a  hundred  birds  now  in  my  cellar  that 
came  in  yesterday,  and  not  a  shot  in  one  of  them  !  " 

The  East  Country  poachers  were  very  clever.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  for  ingenuity  in  catching  the  wildest 
bird  or  beast,  the  North  American  Indian  of  old 
days  would  have  had  a  poor  chance  with  a  Norfolk 
or  Suffolk  man. 

T  273 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

A  party  of  these  men  would  enter  a  covert  with 
dozens  of  "  ingles,"  that  is,  small  snares  formed  of  a 
single  fine  wire,  and  stick  dozens  of  them  in  the 
tracks  where  they  knew  the  pheasants  would  run. 
Then,  facing  to  the  rightabout,  the  whole  band,  each 
armed  with  a  small  stick,  would  retrace  their  steps 
gently  beating  and  kicking  the  underwood,  and 
making  a  sort  of  hissing,  as  if  in  the  act  of  driving 
geese.  In  the  month  of  October,  with  the  breezes 
that  generally  prevail,  they  were  in  no  danger  of  being 
overheard  at  their  pastime.  The  pheasants  ran  before 
them,  and  a  large  proportion  of  them  were  certain 
to  be  taken.  This  plan  was  also  adopted  towards  the 
end  of  the  season  in  taking  partridges  just  before 
the  birds  began  to  pair ;  but  in  this  instance  the 
ingles  were  placed  in  thorn  fences  and  the  ground 
baited  with  a  little  barley. 

There  were  in  reality  two  kinds  of  poachers,  the 
amateur  who  poached  partly  for  sport  and  the  pro- 
fessional who  poached  wholly  for  money.  One  or 
two  of  the  latter  sort  were  to  be  found  in  every  large 
town  or  village  in  the  counties  of  Norfolk  and  Suffolk, 
and  most  likely  in  every  other  county  in  England ;  the 
appearance  of  this  hero  generally  vouched  for  his 
calling.  He  was  generally  a  man,  as  the  poet  wrote, 

Who  in  his  time  had  made  heroic  bustle. 
Who  in  a  row  like  Tom  could  lead  the  van, 
Booze  in  the  ken,  or  at  the  spelkin  hustle  ? 

He  was  in  the  confidence  of  the  head  waiters  at  the 

large  inns,  coachmen  and  guards,  and  now  and  then 

274 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

did  a  little  doubtful  business  with  queer  characters. 
If  young,  at  the  beginning  of  each  season  he  would 
occasionally  go  out  in  person  with  the  party  ;  if  in  the 
sear  and  yellow  leaf  of  life,  he  was  the  receiver  and 
distributor  of  the  labours  of  his  brethren  :  but  in 
whatever  capacity  he  acted,  this  professional  poacher 
always  had  an  eye  to  his  pocket. 

Many  poachers  of  this  sort  were  not  particular  as 
to  appropriating  other  spoils  than  game  if  the  occa- 
sion arose. 

A  carrier  on  one  of  the  roads  out  of  Norwich, 
though  a  very  respectable  man,  was  exceedingly  con- 
vivial in  his  habits,  and  one  night,  anxious  for  a  lark, 
bribed  some  poachers  to  let  him  join  them  on  their 
next  partridge  -  netting  expedition  ;  he  stipulated, 
however,  that  the  party  should  only  visit  fields  where 
there  would  be  little  likelihood  of  meeting  any  keepers, 
for,  as  he  said,  his  business  might  be  ruined  if  there 
was  any  trouble. 

Accordingly,  on  a  certain  night  the  carrier,  according 
to  the  instructions  he  received,  put  on  a  dark  smock- 
frock,  met  the  party  at  an  appointed  spot,  and  in  a 
cart  proceeded  to  the  hunting-ground  of  the  gang. 
Unfortunately,  the  weather  was  very  unpropitious 
and  the  birds  would  not  lie,  with  the  result  that  a 
good  wetting  was  all  the  expedition  obtained,  in 
consequence  of  which  they  eventually  determined  to 
abandon  their  efforts  and  turned  the  horse's  head 
towards  home.  The  carrier,  who  was  now  thoroughly 
disillusioned  with  poaching  as  a  sport,  began  to 
rejoice  that  he  had  got  out  of  the  affair  safely,  for  to 
275 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

add  to  his  discomfort  he  had  been  in  a  great  fright 
when  he  had  started.  He  inwardly  vowed  that  his 
first  appearance  in  the  new  character  of  a  poacher 
should  also  be  his  last. 

When,  however,  the  cart  had  proceeded  a  mile  or 
so  on  its  homeward  way  it  suddenly  stopped  and  two 
of  the  gang  jumped  out  and  ran  up  a  dark  lane,  the 
rest  silencing  the  mystified  carrier's  enquiries  by 
telling  him  to  hold  his  tongue  and  not  even  to  whisper. 

In  about  ten  minutes  the  couple  returned,  bearing 
something  heavy  in  a  sack ;  the  cart  then  went  on  at  a 
furious  pace,  no  one  speaking  a  word  till  they  dropped 
the  carrier  where  they  had  picked  him  up  early  in  the 
evening. 

For  a  long  time  afterwards  the  carrier  trembled  at 
the  recollection  of  this  expedition,  for  from  what  he 
had  felt  by  placing  his  foot  against  the  sack  and  from 
what  he  learnt  from  handbills  posted  in  his  village 
and  on  his  own  gate-posts,  he  had  no  difficulty  in 
divining  that  the  sack  had  contained  nothing  else  than 
a  particularly  fat  pig,  the  property  of  a  neighbouring 
farmer. 

For  years  the  carrier  stood  in  fear  of  being  taken 
up  for  felony  and  transported  for  life. 

Whilst  the  professional  poacher,  as  has  been  said, 
was  actuated  entirely  by  greed,  the  amateur  poacher, 
on  the  other  hand,  was  a  living  demonstration  that 
sport  is  one  of  the  strongest  and  most  natural  pro- 
pensities with  which  Providence  has  endued  man  for 
the  purpose  of  affording  him  health  and  sustenance. 
To  those  who  study  human  life  only  through  the 
276 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

medium  of  a  London  atmosphere,  it  will  appear 
almost  impossible  that  such  characters  could  exist — 
that  poor  men  could  be  found,  who  for  the  love  of 
sport  only,  and  after  a  hard  day's  work,  with  the 
gaol  and  the  treadmill  staring  them  in  the  face,  in 
cold,  dark  winter's  nights  would  eschew  their  beds 
and  go  on  foot  miles  to  assist  in  taking  game,  for  which 
they  received  no  further  remuneration  than  the  sport, 
and  perhaps  half  a  gallon  of  ale  ;  nevertheless,  such 
was  undoubtedly  the  case. 

Of  this  type  it  was  truly  written  that  poaching 

Was  his  delight 

On  a  shiny  night 

In  the  season  of  the  year. 

The  old  amateur  poacher  never  troubled  or  en- 
quired to  what  mart  the  game  he  had  procured  went, 
nor  did  he  eat  it  himself.  "  If  I  wanted  a  hare  or  a 
pheasant  to  make  a  present  of,"  said  an  old  poacher, 
"  I  always  had  it ;  but  as  to  eating  it,  I  don't  think  I 
ever  tasted  any  kind  five  times  in  my  life  "  :  he  never 
looked  for  any  further  remuneration  for  his  share  of 
the  peril  than  the  "  value  of  a  drop  o'  drink  and  the 
fun,"  and,  if  the  season  turned  out  lucky,  "  a  crown 
or  so  "  at  Christmas. 

This  type  of  man  never  complained  of  being  pun- 
ished when  caught ;  the  risk  of  the  penalty  was  the 
price  of  the  article,  and  this,  when  called  upon  for, 
he  cheerfully  paid.  He  was  wise  enough  to  see  that 
if  all  laws  respecting  the  preservation  of  game  were 
done  away  with,  his  trade  or  amusement  would  be 
done  away  with  also. 

277 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

The  timid  and  discreet  are  prevented  from  poach- 
ing from  a  fear  of  fine  or  imprisonment,  not  from 
want  of  skill  or  the  dislike  of  the  pursuit  of  game  ; 
and  therefore  men  of  the  real  old  poaching  spirit  rather 
gloried  in  the  game  laws. 

The  old  poachers  were  generally  rough  and  sturdy 
men  who  thought  little  of  physical  exertion  or  even 
pain.  One  of  this  sort,  a  noted  poacher  on  the  manors 
of  Worthen  and  Brockton,  was  shooting  at  a  covey  of 
partridges;  the  gun  burst  and  took  off  two  of  the 
fingers  of  his  left  hand.  On  his  return  home  he  was 
met  by  a  neighbour,  who  observed  his  hand  bleeding 
pretty  freely,  and  enquired  what  was  the  matter. 
The  other  replied,  "  The  gun  has  burst  and  blown  off 
two  of  my  fingers ;  but  never  mind  that,  mun,  I  ha' 
got  the  birds." 

Though  poaching  brought  many  a  young  man  to  a 
bad  end,  like  most  other  venial  crimes  that  lead  step 
by  step  to  the  worst,  it  had  its  redeeming  qualities. 
During  the  Napoleonic  wars  it  sent  forth  bands  of  men 
careless  of  danger,  and  from  practice  (for  we  all  know 
that  courage  is  partly  mechanical)  possessed  of  presence 
of  mind  in  imminent  peril. 

In  districts  where  there  was  much  game  nearly 
every  village  had  its  poacher,  not  unusually  quite  a 
character,  who  eked  out  a  living  by  doing  odd  jobs. 

A  man  of  this  sort,  who  sometimes  did  carpenter- 
ing, having  secured  a  job  at  the  house  of  a  rich  bishop, 
well  known  for  his  love  of  good  things,  told  a  friend 
that  he  was  in  luck's  way,  for  he  felt  sure  that  he 
would  participate  in  the  good  cheer  which  was  such 
278 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

a  feature  of  his  Grace's  household.  His  spirits,  how- 
ever, were  entirely  damped  by  his  colleague,  who  at 
once  offered  to  bet  that  he  would  neither  taste  the 
bishop's  beer  nor  even  his  bread.  "  I'll  make  him 
find  me  a  dinner  for  a  week,"  was  the  carpenter's 
retort.  The  next  day  he  went  to  work,  determined  to 
taste  some  of  the  good  things  of  the  episcopal  kitchen. 
The  part  of  the  edifice  he  was  employed  upon  was 
near  a  low  fence,  which  enclosed  a  lawn  at  the  back  of 
the  bishop's  house,  and  in  this  lawn  he  presently  saw 
the  owner  walking.  No  time  was  now  to  be  lost ;  so 
gently  loosening  a  pale  he  slyly  drove  one  of  the  pre- 
late's pigs,  which  happened  to  be  feeding  near  him, 
into  the  lawn,  and  then  jumping  over  the  enclosure 
with  his  knife  open  in  his  hand  pursued  the  animal  as 
fast  as  he  could,  hallooing  and  swearing  as  loud  as  his 
lungs  would  permit.  "  Stop  !  stop  !  "  exclaimed  the 
bishop.  "  What  is  the  matter  ?  What  are  you  going 
to  do  with  the  pig  ?  "  "  Oh  !  curse  the  pig  ;  I'll 
kill  the  pig ;  he  has  ruined  me  and  I  shall  be  starved 
to  death ;  he  has  ate  all  my  week's  meat  which  I  had 
brought  in  my  bag."  Then,  pretending  to  relapse 
into  his  former  passion,  he  was  again  setting  off  after 
the  pig,  exclaiming  as  before,  "  Curse  the  pig  ;  I'll 
kill  the  pig."  "  Don't  swear,  don't  be  in  a  passion," 
cried  his  Reverence.  "  Are  you  sure  the  pig  has  eaten 
all  your  meat  ?  "  "  Oh,  yes,  indeed  he  has ;  I  put 
my  jacket  and  my  bag  down  under  the  tree,  and  I 
turned  round  and  saw  the  pig,  just  as  he  had  finished 
the  meat.  He  has  ate  it  all,  and  I'll  kill  the  pig," 
again  endeavouring  to  pass  in  pursuit  of  his  victim. 
279 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

"  Well,  well,"  cried  the  prelate,  evidently  alarmed 
for  his  pig,  "  if  you  are  sure  he  has  eaten  all  your 
victuals,  I  will  order  my  cook  to  give  you  your  dinner 
for  the  week ;  but  don't  lay  your  bag  on  the  ground 
again,  or  you  must  abide  by  the  consequence." 

Another  poacher,  being  caught  shooting  partridges, 
excused  himself  to  the  squire,  a  violent  church  and 
king  man,  by  saying  he  was  learning  to  shoot  at  the 
French  should  they  attempt  to  land. 

"  But  why,"  said  the  squire,  "  do  you  shoot  at  my 
game  ?  Why  do  you  not  stick  a  mark  on  a  tree  and 
shoot  at  that  ?  "  "  That  would  not  answer  the  pur- 
pose," replied  the  countryman ;  "  you  always  told  me 
the  French  will  run  away,  and  therefore  I  must 
learn  to  shoot  them  flying." 

An  extraordinary  instance  of  the  effrontery  of 
poachers  was  afforded  at  Wakefield  Sessions  in  1793, 
in  the  autumn  of  which  year  nine  men  were  tried. 
Having  been  encountered  by  a  gamekeeper  on  the 
Duke  of  Leeds'  moor  and  asked  their  names  the  first 
said,  "  I  am  Master  of  Manchester  Workhouse "  ; 
the  second,  "  I  am  Tom  Paine  "  ;  and  so  forth  till  the 
last,  who  described  himself  as  "  Knock  thee  Down," 
and  instantly  acted  up  to  the  name,  pressing  on  the 
gamekeeper's  stomach  with  his  knees,  whilst  he  was 
punched  and  ill-treated  by  the  others.  Not  one  of  their 
names  could  be  discovered  till  "  Knock  thee  Down  " 
was  accidentally  recognised  at  Halifax,  he  being  in 
actual  custody  on  suspicion  of  seditious  practices. 
Having  no  defence  to  make  upon  his  trial,  he  was 
found  guilty,  to  the  satisfaction  of  all  present,  and 
280 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

adjudged  to  be  imprisoned  in  the  castle  of  York  for 
one  year. 

Poachers  were  occasionally  sheep-stealers  as  well, 
and  the  death  penalty  which  followed  detection  did 
not  prevent  a  good  deal  of  this  from  going  on. 

A  curious  instance  is  recorded  of  a  man  who  perished 
owing  to  sheep-stealing,  though  he  was  never  tried 
or  caught. 

In  the  year  1801,  when  the  quartern  loaf  was  at 
one  shilling  and  ten-pence  halfpenny,  and  a  pound  of 
good  flesh  could  not  be  bought  under  eighteen  pence, 
a  poor  day-labouring  man,  named  William  Hathaway, 
had  so  great  a  desire  for  a  bit  of  good  mutton  that  he 
determined  to  take  a  sheep  from  a  nobleman's  park. 
Having  climbed  the  wall  and  got  hold  of  a  sheep,  he 
bound  the  animal's  legs  together  and  put  them  over 
his  forehead,  as  a  porter  used  to  put  his  knot.  When, 
however,  he  came  to  the  five-bar  gate  that  separated 
the  park  from  the  high  road,  he  attempted  to  cover 
it  with  his  fleecy  burden.  But,  alas !  his  foot  slipping 
in  the  descent,  poor  Hathaway  fell,  and  the  feet  of 
the  sheep  shifting  to  his  throat,  he  became  instantly 
suspended,  the  sheep  on  one  side  and  William  on  the 
other,  where,  no  one  coming  to  his  relief,  together 
with  the  struggles  of  the  animal,  he  was  found  stone 
dead  in  the  morning  ;  and  in  that  state  was  suffered 
to  remain  by  the  parish  till  the  coroner  had  held  an 
inquest,  when  a  jury  of  villagers  brought  in  the 
following  verdict  : 

"  Executed  for  sheep-stealing  by  Providence,  with- 
out the  interference  of  the  law." 
281 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

As  a  proof  of  the  prevalence  of  poaching  in  country 
districts  it  may  be  added  that  in  1822  there  were  no 
less  than  sixty  persons  lying  in  Bury  gaol  and  fifty- 
four  in  that  at  Lewes  who  had  been  apprehended  for 
that  offence.  The  lack  of  employment  which  pre- 
vailed at  that  time  no  doubt  contributed  to  produce 
such  a  large  number. 

Many  of  the  old  poachers  were  great  characters. 
Such  a  one  was  a  Dorsetshire  man — Daniel  Jenkins, 
known  as  Gentleman  Jenkins,  who  as  a  youth  carried 
all  before  him  at  cudgelling,  boxing,  and  wrestling, 
and  became  the  hero  of  all  the  fairs  and  country 
wakes  which  he  attended. 

Of  a  highly  sporting  disposition,  Jenkins  gratified 
his  love  of  shooting  with  profit  to  himself.  He  poached 
quite  systematically,  selling  what  he  shot,  and 
always  going  out  alone  for  safety.  Cautious  to  a 
degree,  he  carefully  concealed  what  fell  to  his  gun, 
having  it  secretly  conveyed  away  and  sold  to  a  Bath 
dealer  with  whom  he  had  an  arrangement.  During 
his  eventful  career  he  had  only  three  dogs,  the  favourite 
of  which  was  out  of  a  setter  bitch  by  a  sheep-dog,  gaunt 
and  thin  in  appearance,  the  exact  resemblance  of  its 
father.  This  animal  was  very  clever,  with  much 
point,  however,  and  capable,  according  to  its  master's 
account,  of  doing  everything  but  speak. 

When  twenty-six  years  old  Jenkins  determined  to 
make  a  great  expedition  to  some  well-stocked  covers 
in  the  western  part  of  Dorset,  famed  for  an  abundance 
of  game,  which  were  preserved  with  most  particular 
care  ;  and  for  the  execution  of  his  plan,  attended  by 
282 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

his  faithful  follower,  and  with  his  gun  on  his  shoulder, 
he  crossed  the  country,  arriving  on  the  scene  of  action 
as  the  day  began  to  dawn.  He  had  just  turned  into 
the  first  cover  and  commenced  a  twilight  sort  of 
reconnoitring,  when  two  men  sprang  up,  one  on  either 
side,  and  had  nearly  overpowered  him  when,  recover- 
ing his  legs,  he  dealt  the  stouter  of  the  two  such  a 
blow  under  the  ear  as  felled  him  to  the  ground,  and 
made  him,  to  use  his  own  words,  "  kick  and  sprawl, 
as  in  the  last  agonies."  The  other  Jenkins  instantly 
seized,  and  with  a  thong  which  he  had  in  his  pocket 
he  bound  him  neck  and  heels,  in  spite  of  his  cries  for 
mercy,  in  order,  as  he  said,  that  he  should  witness  the 
effect  of  the  punishment  inflicted  on  his  presumptuous 
companion.  After  some  shaking  the  natural  colour 
returned  to  the  cheeks  of  the  prostrate  keeper,  whose 
eyes  had  some  moments  been  half  closed  and  fixed 
as  in  death.  In  the  intervals  of  his  recovery,  and  when 
nature,  as  it  were,  seemed  to  ebb  and  flow,  Jenkins 
conceived  a  scheme  which  in  the  way  of  impudent 
audacity  has  never  been  equalled  by  any  poacher. 
Both  these  keepers,  the  one  recovered  from  a  tem- 
porary trance,  yet  for  some  time  labouring  under 
considerable  weakness,  and  the  other  freed  condition- 
ally from  bondage,  did  he  compel  to  follow  him 
several  hours  through  their  master's  covers,  pointing 
out  the  most  special  places  for  game,  and  carrying  for 
him  such  quantities  as  marked  the  day  beyond  any 
precedent  in  his  sporting  career.  On  parting  he  eased 
them  respectively  of  their  load,  advising  them  to 
return  contented  to  their  master's  service  and  say 
283 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

nothing  of  the  matter.  For  some  days  shame  and 
mutual  agreement  alike  conduced  to  seal  the  mouths 
of  the  keepers,  till  meeting  at  a  booth  in  a  country 
fair,  and  drinking  to  excess,  certain  hints  escaped 
one  of  them  as  to  some  deficiency  in  the  other's 
courage.  Words  created  words — the  whole  story, 
with  all  its  circumstances,  and,  indeed,  with  much 
addition,  soon  reached  the  ears  of  their  astonished 
master. 

Before  long  Jenkins  had  good  reason  to  know  that 
his  poaching  exploit  had  become  the  talk  of  the  country- 
side, for,  passing  through  a  turnpike  gate,  he  saw  on 
one  of  the  posts,  in  large  capitals,  the  whole  circum- 
stance of  the  late  transaction,  which  he  did  not  wait 
to  read  through.  On  the  top  of  the  paper,  however, 
he  noticed  a  reward  of  "  Fifty  Guineas,"  which  the 
turnpike  woman  said  would  be  doubled  on  conviction 
of  the  offender.  Proceeding  somewhat  farther,  and 
the  day  drawing  to  a  close,  another  of  these  con- 
spicuous handbills  met  his  eyes,  fixed  to  the  trunk 
of  an  aged  elm  by  the  roadside  ;  and  this  he  proceeded 
to  read  at  his  leisure,  when  the  very  landowner  on  whose 
property  the  raid  had  been  committed  happened  to 
pass  by  and  enter  into  conversation  with  the  aston- 
ished poacher,  telling  him  he  would  give  five  hundred 
pounds  to  catch  the  culprit.  With  characteristic 
effrontery  Jenkins  offered  to  assist  in  the  search,  and 
received  a  guinea  as  preliminary  payment  for  his 
services.  When,  however,  the  gentleman  had  gone  he 
thought  it  prudent  to  leave  the  district,  and  going  to 
Dartmouth  went  away  to  Newfoundland  for  two  years. 
284 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

In  Newfoundland  he  worked  on  a  fishery,  at  times 
indulging  his  sporting  propensities,  which  an  abund- 
ance of  game  was  at  hand  to  gratify.  On  his  return 
to  England,  arriving  at  Teignmouth,  he  found  that 
the  enemy  he  dreaded  had  died  in  a  fit,  owing  to 
some  further  poaching,  which  had  thrown  him  into 
such  a  rage  as  to  have  induced  apoplexy.  His  heir, 
a  young  man  of  effeminate  habits,  passed  the  whole  of 
his  time  in  London,  leaving  his  estates  to  be  poached 
by  any  one  who  liked,  a  piece  of  news  which  filled 
Jenkins'  heart  with  joy.  The  latter,  after  enquiries, 
also  found  that  he  was  quite  safe  from  arrest,  and 
so,  returning  to  his  native  village,  he  began  to  renew 
his  sporting  excursions  with  increased  ardour ;  and, 
probably  because  his  past  deeds  and  tried  prowess 
had  intimidated  the  keepers  of  the  various  properties, 
he  poached  with  more  boldness  than  ever,  and  though 
committing  havoc  and  destruction,  never  after  ex- 
perienced the  least  interruption.  Woodcock  shooting 
was  his  favourite  amusement,  from  the  twofold 
consideration  of  the  value  of  the  birds  and  the 
pleasure  they  afforded  in  the  pursuit  of  them ;  and 
in  truth,  never  in  the  annals  of  sporting  did  they 
ever  meet  with  a  more  formidable  enemy.  It  was 
a  rare  thing  for  him  to  miss  a  tolerable  shot. 
Whenever  a  snowstorm  proceeded  from  the  north, 
or  north-west,  the  south  of  Dorset  and  Devon,  and 
particularly  the  coast  part,  found  him  full  employment 
in  pursuit  of  woodcocks ;  and  should  the  sleety 
tempest  come  from  any  eastern  point,  instantly  he 
set  off  to  the  house  of  a  relation  on  the  north  coast  of 
285 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

Devon,  whence  he  seldom  returned  without  ample 
remuneration  for  his  trouble.  Strict  economy  being 
a  prominent  feature  in  the  character  of  Jenkins,  he 
purchased,  chiefly  by  gains  as  a  shot,  a  small  estate 
of  twenty-five  pounds  per  annum  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  Sidmouth. 

After  a  few  years  he  fell  in  love  with  a  farmer's 
daughter,  whom  he  married,  but  the  death  of  the  poor 
girl  within  the  same  year  entirely  altered  the  poacher's 
character.  He  could  not  bear  to  remain  on  the  spot  of 
his  lost  happiness ;  he  set  sail  again  for  Newfoundland. 

There,  in  the  deepest  solitude,  and  remote  from 
all  society  except  that  of  one  merchant,  at  whose 
store  he  exchanged  his  gettings  and  procured  supplies, 
he  resided  many  years  alone,  in  a  cottage  covered  with 
inverted  squares  of  turf,  so  much  the  humorist,  and 
so  original  in  character,  as  to  render  him  an  interest- 
ing object  to  the  sporting  part  of  the  community. 

A  regular  Robinson  Crusoe  in  his  retreat,  the  old 
poacher  employed  his  time  in  various  ingenious 
contrivances,  mostly  connected  with  sport. 

One  of  these,  of  which  he  was  inordinately  proud, 
was  a  contrivance  for  killing  the  foxes  which  strayed 
into  his  garden. 

From  an  upper  window  of  his  cottage  a  line  was 
stretched  to  the  ground,  whilst  an  enormous  duck 
gun  pointed  in  a  similar  direction.  The  line  was 
fastened  to  a  peg  stuck  in  the  earth,  to  which  some 
dead  birds  were  fixed  as  a  bait,  so  arranged  that  bells 
at  the  top  of  the  peg  would  jingle  when  any  foxes 
were  attracted  to  devour  the  birds.  Every  night, 
286 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

when  Jenkins  went  to  bed,  he  cocked  the  duck  gun, 
immovably  fixed  pointing  at  the  birds.  A  string 
connected  the  trigger  with  his  bed,  which  he  pulled 
whenever  he  was  aroused  by  the  jingling  of  the  bells, 
and  then  at  one  shot  he  often  killed  two  or  three 
black,  white,  or  silver  foxes. 

His  abode  was  a  cottage  in  a  part  of  the  country 
then  known  as  the  "  Hunting  Ground."  Shooting 
and  fishing  occupied  his  time,  and  he  was  his  own 
caterer  and  cook,  carpenter,  builder,  shoemaker,  and 
tobacconist,  dependent  only  on  the  factory  for  such 
articles  as  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  provide. 
The  "  factory,"  it  should  be  added,  was  the  local  name 
of  the  depot  or  store.  When  strangers  came  to  see 
him  he  never  failed  to  point  to  an  old  fowling-piece, 
telling  them  that  a  small  estate  he  possessed  in  England 
had  been  gained  by  it.  From  this  he  drew  a  modest 
income,  which  was  increased  by  the  furs  and  skins 
he  sold  to  the  "  factory." 

Jenkins,  it  should  be  added,  lived  to  a  very  great 
age  in  his  Newfoundland  retreat. 

A  curious  sporting  character,  whose  fate  it  was 
to  pass  most  of  his  life  in  a  town,  was  John  Under- 
wood, who  died  in  1825.  For  forty  years  he  was 
doorkeeper  and  bill-sticker  to  the  Theatre  Royal, 
Bristol.  His  qualifications,  indeed,  entitle  him  to  a 
niche  amongst  the  departed  worthies  of  his  day  in  the 
sporting  world.  He  commenced  his  career  as  game- 
keeper to  Mr.  Wyndham,  of  Dunraven  Castle ; 
he  thence  passed  into  the  service  of  General  Rooke, 
who  wanted  him  to  accompany  him  to  Goree,  on  the 
287 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

coast  of  Africa.  John,  however,  understanding  from 
a  friend  that  there  were  very  few  trout  streams  in 
that  neighbourhood,  and  very  little  shooting,  except 
now  and  then  with  a  musket  at  "  black  game,"  excused 
himself.  His  master  had  given  him  a  most  handsome 
letter  of  credentials,  and  so  he  determined  to  lay 
by  the  shot-belt  and  see  the  world.  With  this  intent 
he  offered  himself  to  the  celebrated  Collins,  the  actor. 
John  had  so  excellent  a  memory  that  he  was  soon 
master  of  every  word,  and  acted  as  prompter  to  his 
master,  giving  him  his  cue  whenever  he  made  a  halt, 
or  bolted  out  of  the  course.  John  could  also,  when 
needful,  play  the  fiddle  and  sing  a  good  song — both 
valuable  acquisitions  in  the  Bohemian  life  he  chose. 
Later  on  he  again  became  keeper  in  the  Forest  of 
Dean  ;  and  there  125  couple  of  cocks  fell  before  his 
single  barrel  in  the  course  of  the  season,  besides  other 
game — a  fine  record  for  the  days  of  muzzle-loaders. 
After  this  he  came  to  Bristol ;  but  Bristol  is  a  bad 
sporting  country,  and  our  hero  longed  to  have  his 
finger  upon  the  trigger,  and  so,  for  lack  of  other 
sport,  he  used  to  bring  down  the  swifts  upon  Brandon 
Hill,  or,  when  these  birds  were  lacking,  would  practise 
upon  a  flung-up  ha'penny,  which  he  seldom  failed 
to  mark  with  the  lead.  Now  and  then  he  won  a  bag  of 
shot  by  a  bet  that  he  hit  a  dozen  times  following. 
His  great  secret  was  to  let  drive  at  the  standstill 
moment,  when  the  piece  of  money,  like  the  cannon- 
ball  of  Hudibras  and  the  coffin  of  Mahomet,  was  in 
doubt  whether  to  mount  or  to  descend.  But  he 
might  have  shot  swifts  and  have  defaced  the  King's 
288 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

coin  to  eternity,  without  having  any  serious  claim  to 
sporting  immortality,  if  he  had  not  been  a  "  brother 
of  the  angle,"  and  the  Izaak  Walton  of  his  day. 
The  Bath  River,  Blagdon,  Redhill,  and  Congresbury 
all  exercised  his  skill,  both  with  the  fly  and  the  ground 
bait ;  and  many  a  young  fisherman  went  home  with 
a  full  bag  by  attending  to  his  instructions.  In  fact, 
he  was  altogether  a  clever  sportsman  ;  and  had  not  a 
somewhat  "  truant  disposition "  coupled  him  to  a 
paste-kettle,  his  name  would  have  long  ago  figured  in 
the  annals  of  sports,  by  the  side  of  the  first  anglers 
and  the  first  shots  in  England. 


289 


CLAUGHTER  of  game  on  a  large  scale  is,  after  all, 
no  new  thing,  for  surprising  quantities  were 
killed  before  the  French  Revolution  in  one  day,  on  the 
domains  of  some  of  the  French  nobility. 

Prince  Radzivil  once  showed  Augustus  Ponia- 
towski  a  plain  perfectly  open,  and  without  a  covert 
for  a  sparrow,  and  asked  him  if  he  wished  to  have  a 
day's  sport  hunting  there.  The  King  replied  that, 
as  he  could  not  see  a  bit  of  brushwood,  if  he  hunted, 
it  must  be  the  birds  of  the  air,  not  the  beasts  of  the 
field.  "  As  for  the  want  of  a  forest,"  rejoined  the 
Prince,  "  that  is  my  affair,  not  your  Majesty's ;  only 
say  the  word,  and  here  you  shall  to-morrow  have  a 
glorious  day's  sport."  The  King,  determined  to 
humour  the  Prince,  accepted  the  invitation.  On  the 
following  day,  as  if  by  enchantment,  was  seen  a 
forest  as  fresh  as  if  it  had  come  from  the  hands  of 
Nature,  and  stocked  with  deer,  wild  boars,  and  various 
other  game. 

To  account  for  this  sudden  transformation  of  an 
open  plain  into  a  wood,  the  reader  should  know 
that  the  whole  plan  had  been  previously  arranged, 
with  the  view  of  giving  the  King  a  high  idea  of  the 
power  of  the  Prince.  Accordingly,  for  some  days 
previous  to  the  invitation  being  given,  thousands  of 
290 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  peasantry  had  been  employed  in  uprooting 
trees  and  placing  them  upon  timber  wagons ;  holes 
had  been  dug  in  the  plain,  and  in  one  night  a  forest 
was  planted,  and  the  animals  carried  or  driven  thither. 
This  extravagant  whim  cost,  of  course,  a  pretty  con- 
siderable sum  of  money,  but  the  whole  of  the  expense 
was  probably  more  than  repaid  in  the  estimation  of 
the  Prince  by  the  eclat  of  the  freak  ;  and  the  memory 
of  the  Radzivil  Hunt  has  been  preserved  like  that 
of  Chevy  Chase  in  England. 

The  battle  of  Wagram,  it  may  not  be  generally 
known,  so  celebrated  for  the  slaughter  of  men,  was 
also  the  occasion  of  an  extraordinary  slaughter  of  game. 
It  was,  indeed,  one  of  the  largest  battues  ever  known. 
The  beaters  were  four  hundred  thousand  French  and 
Austrian  troops  who  fought  on  a  plain  covered  with 
hares.  At  every  ten  paces  numbers  jumped  up — 
the  rattle  of  musketry  and  the  cannonading  rendered 
them  wild  with  terror.  Maddened  with  fear,  the 
poor  animals  rushed  from  before  the  moving  wall  of 
Frenchmen,  only  to  find  themselves  hemmed  in  by 
an  equally  impenetrable  barrier  of  Austrians ;  then 
they  rushed  back  to  the  French.  They  ran  in  squad- 
rons between  the  two  armies.  At  one  moment  a 
charge  of  cavalry,  which  certainly  was  no  affair  of 
theirs,  put  them  to  the  rout ;  they  pierced  the 
ranks,  passed  between  the  legs  of  the  soldiers,  and 
were  either  sabred,  bayoneted,  or  taken  alive.  The 
day  resolved  itself  into  a  regular  butchery  of  men 
and  hares !  The  humorous  note  was  not  absent, 
for  one  puss  killed  made  men  forget  a  comrade  slain  ! 
291 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

It  was  like  the  pantomime  after  the  tragedy  !  If 
every  bullet  has  its  billet,  how  many  bullets  destined 
by  one  army  for  the  other  were  billeted  by  an  averting 
Power  in  the  bodies  of  those  poor  animals !  Never 
were  there  so  many  seen — never  were  there  so  many 
killed  !  That  evening,  after  the  battle,  conquerors 
and  conquered  alike,  all  supped  off  "  jugged  hare." 

The  hare  is  not  usually  considered  a  very  sagacious 
animal,  but  there  are  exceptions  to  every  rule. 

A  Mr.  Dunning,  of  Winchley,  in  Devonshire,  who 
had  a  pack  of  harriers,  kept  a  pet  hare  in  his  large 
walled  garden  for  several  years,  which  before  capture 
had  given  him  and  his  hounds  twenty-three  runs. 

Puss  was  the  admiration  of  the  neighbourhood, 
owing  to  her  extraordinary  history. 

When  out  hunting,  Mr.  Dunning  had  frequently 
found  a  hare  near  a  deserted  cottage,  in  the  herb 
garden,  which  always  gave  the  sportsmen  a  most 
excellent  run,  and  was  lost  in  a  very  extraordinary 
manner  in  one  particular  spot.  The  master,  aston- 
ished at  this,  sent  a  man  to  watch  near  the  place 
where  the  hare  always  ended  her  runs ;  the  latter 
saw  her  come  leisurely  up  to  the  spot,  where  there 
was  a  double  bank,  called  in  Devonshire  a  hedge, 
from  whence  grew  a  pollard  ash,  in  which  time  had 
made  a  large  hole ;  the  hare  looked  around,  and  then 
leaped  from  the  bank  into  the  hole.  The  hounds 
with  one  follower  alone  came  up,  the  rest  of  the 
sportsmen  being  thrown  out,  as  this  witch  of  a  hare, 
as  they  called  her,  had  given  them  a  chase  of  two 
hours  and  a  half.  The  hounds  hunted  the  hare  to  the 
292 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

top  of  the  hedge,  and  then  gave  up  the  thing  as  usual, 
after  which  the  man  captured  puss.  Added  to  this 
extraordinary  fact,  the  hare  had  but  three  feet,  one 
of  her  fore  ones  having  been  cut  off  by  some  trap. 

A  Scotch  farmer,  known  for  his  good  breed  of 
greyhounds,  had  often  coursed  a  hare  unsuccessfully. 
At  last  her  appearance  and  habits  became  so  well 
known  to  him  that  he  was  able  to  distinguish  her 
from  others,  and  knew  where  to  find  her  when  wanted. 
On  a  bank  sloping  gently  to  the  water  of  Leith,  the 
background  rising  more  precipitously  to  the  Pent- 
land  Hills,  puss  was  always  to  be  found  at  home  at 
certain  hours ;  and  whenever  the  farmer  wished  to 
gratify  any  of  his  friends  by  witnessing  the  speed  of  his 
dogs,  he  had  only  to  proceed  to  her  haunt.  She 
became  so  accustomed  to  the  sport  that  it  did  not 
seem  to  annoy  her,  and  she  would  trot  at  leisure  before 
the  dogs,  until  hard  pressed,  when,  turning  her  head 
to  the  hill,  and  putting  out  her  speed,  in  a  short  time 
they  were  "  at  fault."  This  lasted  for  some  time, 
until  the  farmer,  irritated  by  the  repeated  defeat 
of  his  best  dogs,  somewhat  cruelly  ended  the  poor 
hare's  career  by  shooting  it,  which  caused  a  good  deal 
of  regret  to  many  who  had  come  to  look  upon  poor 
puss  as  a  friend.  In  all  probability  the  man  was 
actuated  in  some  degree  by  superstition.  The  hare 
has  always  been  supposed  to  be  a  witch's  favourite 
metamorphosis ;  indeed,  she  was  seldom  alleged  to 
assume  any  other  shape,  and  when  the  chase  led  past 
a  lone  moorland  hut,  occupied  by  an  old  woman, 
and  the  dogs  lost  sight  thereabouts,  as  it  was  likely 
293 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

they  would,  the  evidence  was  generally  considered 
conclusive. 

A  crooked  sixpence  was  generally  put  in  the  charge 
when  any  one  wished  to  destroy  one  of  these  un- 
canny hares. 

At  one  time  hawking  was  a  favourite  sport  in 
England,  which  sent  experts  to  various  parts  of 
Europe,  including  Holland. 

Louis  Bonaparte,  when  King  of  that  country, 
detained  some  English  falconers  about  to  leave  for 
England,  and  employed  their  talents  for  some  time 
in  his  own  service ;  he  then  transferred  them  to  his 
brother,  Napoleon,  who  used  to  make  them  exercise 
their  art  for  his  entertainment  at  Versailles.  On  his 
commencing  his  ill-fated  Russian  campaign,  having 
expressed  a  wish  for  their  company  to  those  inhos- 
pitable regions,  they  obtained  leave  to  depart  by 
representing  that  theirs  was  the  profession  of  wings, 
and  not  of  arms. 

A  notable  supporter  of  this  old-world  sport  was 
Lord  Berners,  who  for  a  time  was  a  worthy  representa- 
tive of  that  falconry  which  was  once  the  delight  of 
our  princes,  and  the  diversion  peculiar  to  all  of  gentle 
blood,  some  of  whom  bore  the  "  tercel  gentle  "  for 
device.  Up  to  comparatively  recent  years  the  Heredi- 
tary Grand  Falconer  had  to  capture  a  pigeon  (latterly 
a  tame  one)  by  means  of  a  hawk,  in  order  to  hold  his 
post. 

Soon  after  Lord  Berners  had  become  a  convert,  the 
style  of  his  hawking  establishment  achieved  a  high 
standard  of  perfection.  His  own  estate  afforded 
294 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

great  facility  for  this.  It  contained  a  noble  heronry, 
and  the  wild  heaths  of  the  neighbourhood  seemed 
spread  purposely  for  those  "  who  lance  their  falcons 
in  the  air."  Certain  parts  of  Suffolk  were  exactly 
suited  to  the  cry  of  "  Heron  a  la  vole"  which  in  feudal 
days  often  rang  o'er  its  fern-bearing  wilds.  Upon  one 
of  these,  sheltered  by  a  solitary  clump  of  firs  and 
mountain  ash  to  hide  their  presence  and  purpose 
from  the  home-wending  fisher-bird,  might  the  old 
lord  be  discerned  seated  in  a  rude  one-horse  chariot 
of  primeval  simplicity,  with  a  small  but  select  band 
of  the  lovers  of  the  "  flight  "  around  him.  Russet-clad 
men  of  foreign  aspect  bore  stately  birds  plumed  and 
hooded  upon  their  fist,  the  music  of  whose  silver 
bells  was  the  sole  sound  breaking  the  silence  of  the 
world  of  waste.  The  whole  scene  resembled  one  by 
Snyders. 

Lord  Berners  was  also  a  great  supporter  of  the 
turf,  and  few  men  who  have  made  racing  a  pursuit 
ever  supported  it  so  long  as  he.  His  house  at  New- 
market was  characteristic  of  him  and  a  most  unpre- 
tending box,  containing  much  that  was  useful,  but 
nothing  by  any  means  superfluous  or  ornamental. 
All  that  related  to  the  stable,  however,  was  amply 
provided  for  in  both  the  last-named  respects, 
though  latterly  they  were  maintained  in  a  less 
careful  way.  The  ground  behind  it,  with  its  thick- 
set hedgerows  offering  complete  shelter  for  walking 
exercise,  and  the  quiet  access  afforded  by  its  situation 
to  the  heath  at  either  side  of  the  town,  made  this  place 
the  ideal  of  a  racing  establishment. 
295 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

Lord  Berners  did  not  become  more  liberal  as  he 
grew  older,  and  in  1834  his  stud,  though  in  the  hands 
of  Doe,  a  man  who  thoroughly  understood  his  pro- 
fession, exhibited  a  good  deal  of  seediness  due  to 
economy.  In  that  year  he  would  have  won  the  Oaks 
but  for  a  fall,  by  which  his  mare  lost  her  life.  After 
this  Doe  left  his  master's  service  for  that  of  Lord 
Lichfield,  and  the  racehorses  were  entrusted  to  the 
direction  of  a  person  who  was  really  little  but  an 
ordinary  stable-boy.  With  these  odds  against  them 
they  went  to  Epsom  in  1837,  where  Phosphorus,  with 
forty  to  one  against  him  and  a  queer  leg,  won  the 
Derby,  which  was  more  than  the  stable  had  been  able 
to  do  in  the  palmy  days  of  the  Didlington  stud. 

Lord  Berners  was  exceedingly  eccentric  about  money 
matters.  On  one  occasion,  being  in  a  county  town 
on  one  of  his  racing  expeditions,  and  wanting  cash 
for  some  immediate  purpose,  he  entered  a  banking- 
house  and  requested  money  for  his  cheque  upon  his 
London  banker,  stating  who  he  was.  "  My  lord," 
answered  the  official,  "  there  is  no  need  for  you  to 
draw  upon  London ;  we  shall  be  happy  to  pay  your 
draft  upon  ourselves,  as  we  are  in  account  with  you 
for  a  considerable  sum  which  your  lordship  lodged  with 
us  several  years  ago  to  your  own  credit."  This  anec- 
dote is  by  no  means  out  of  keeping  with  the  character 
of  a  man  of  close  habits. 

In  his  general  appearance  no  man  of  his  class  ever 

exhibited  a  more  supreme  contempt  of  outward  show, 

or  was   more   eminently  independent   of  his   tailor. 

A  portrait  of  the  sporting  old  peer,  "  in  his  habit  as  he 

296 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

lived,"  would  be  as  original  a  sketch  as  can  well  be 
imagined.  An  ample  and  venerable  white  hat  was 
matched  by  a  marvellously  capacious  frock-coat 
composed  of  grass-green  baize  lined  with  a  substance 
resembling  buff  kerseymere ;  his  waistcoat  was  of 
the  same  material  as  the  lining  of  his  coat,  and  his 
trousers  were  of  brown  stuff.  Thus  arrayed,  it  was 
his  habit  to  stand  at  the  gate  of  his  lodge  at  the  foot 
of  the  windmill  hill  in  Newmarket,  his  customary 
cigar  alight,  in  attitude  and  bearing  the  very  picture 
of  one  whom  the  cares  and  anxieties  of  this  world 
had  touched  but  lightly.  Lord  Berners  died,  when 
seventy-six,  having  left  no  species  of  sylvan  craft 
untried,  and  a  name  honourably  connected  with  all 
of  them.  He  was  in  many  ways  the  type  of  the  old- 
fashioned  sportsman  with  original  ideas. 

Another,  though  of  a  different  kind,  was  Sir  Harry 
Featherstonhaugh,  of  Up  Park,  in  Sussex,  who 
flourished  in  the  days  of  the  Regency.  One  of  his 
eccentricities  was  to  cause  his  hunters  to  stand  for 
a  given  time  with  their  forelegs  in  stable  buckets  full 
of  cold  water.  This  plan  was  once  adopted  at  the 
hunting  stables  at  Goodwood,  with  extremely  unfor- 
tunate results. 

Sir  Harry  Featherstonhaugh  (whose  widow  the 
present  writer  perfectly  remembers,  having  been 
taken  to  see  her  as  a  child),  though  a  sorry  veterinarian, 
was  a  fine  horseman.  As  a  result  of  the  adoption  of 
his  cold-water  system  at  Goodwood,  all  the  horses 
subjected  to  it  became  unfit  to  follow  hounds.  One 
of  the  old  grooms,  speaking  of  the  disastrous  ex- 
297 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

periment  to  an  enquirer,  said  :  "  It  was  all  a  frolic, 
sir,  of  that  Sir  Harry  Featherstonhaugh's ;  but, 
Lord  love  ye,  it  was  something  else  besides  cold  water 
and  horses'  legs  that  was  running  in  their  heads,  in 
those  days  at  Up  Park." 

Sir  Harry  was  for  some  time  on  intimate  terms  with 
the  beautiful  creature  who  became  Lady  Hamilton, 
and  he  it  was  who  taught  her  to  ride. 

A  fox-hunter  of  eccentric  ways  was  that  Duke  of 
Somerset  (a  Seymour)  who  was  commonly  called  "  the 
proud  Duke."  He  employed  Seymour,  the  artist,  to 
paint  the  portraits  of  his  horses,  and  asked  him  to 
stay.  One  day,  at  dinner,  the  Duke  filled  his  glass, 
and  saying  with  a  sneer,  "  Cousin  Seymour,  your 
health,"  drank  it  off. 

"  My  lord,"  said  the  artist,  "  I  believe  I  have  the 
honour  of  being  related  to  your  Grace." 

The  proud  peer  rose  from  the  table,  and  ordered  his 
steward  to  dismiss  the  presumptuous  painter,  and 
send  for  a  humbler  brother  of  the  brush. 

This  was  accordingly  done  ;  but  when  the  new 
painter  saw  the  spirited  works  of  his  predecessor, 
he  shook  his  head  and  retired,  saying  : 

"  No  man  in  the  world  can  compete  with  James 
Seymour." 

The  Duke  now  condescended  to  recall  his  discarded 
cousin. 

"  My  lord,"  was  the  answer  of  Seymour,  "  I  will 
now  prove  to  the  world  that  I  am  of  your  blood — I 
won't  come !  " 

Upon  receiving  this  laconic  reply,  the  Duke  sent  his 
298 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

steward  to  demand  a  former  loan  of  one  hundred 
pounds  sterling. 

Seymour  briefly  replied  that  he  would  write  to  his 
Grace ;  he  did  so,  but  directed  his  letter, "  Opposite  the 
trunk-maker's,  Charing  Cross." 

Enraged  at  this  additional  insult,  the  Duke  threw 
the  letter  into  the  fire  without  opening  it,  and  im- 
mediately ordered  his  steward  to  have  him  arrested. 

But  Seymour,  struck  with  an  opportunity  of 
evasion,  carelessly  observed  that  "  it  was  hasty  in  his 
Grace  to  burn  his  letter,  because  it  contained  a  bank- 
note of  one  hundred  pounds,  and  therefore  they  were 
now  quits." 

Many  sporting  artists,  like  Seymour,  were  wits  in 
their  way.  One  of  them,  for  instance,  drew  an  ex- 
cellent likeness  of  a  well-known  dashing  young  man 
of  rank  and  fortune,  driving  his  chere  amie  in  a  chaise. 
The  landscape  was  St.  George's  Fields,  with  a  distant 
view  of  the  King's  Bench  Prison.  Under  this  he 
wrote,  "  This  is  allowed  to  be  a  very  good  portrait, 
but  a  shocking  bad  prospect !  " 

The  aristocracy  of  the  past,  though  patrons  of  art, 
do  not  appear  to  have  treated  even  great  painters  with 
any  particular  respect. 

Sir  Walter  Blacket  paid  Sir  Joshua  Reynolds  two 
hundred  guineas  to  paint  his  portrait,  which,  when 
finished,  was  placed  amidst  the  baronet's  ancestors 
in  the  family  mansion  at  Newcastle.  Before,  however, 
it  had  been  there  very  long  the  ladies  of  the  house 
were  terrified  with  a  sudden  alteration  in  the  visage, 
and  even  in  the  dress  of  this  admired  picture.  The 
299 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

tints  which  gave  animation  to  the  countenance,  and 
the  colouring  of  the  drapery,  disappeared,  and  left 
on  the  canvas  only  a  natural  but  elegant  outline, 
when  nothing  less  than  death  was  foreboded  from  this 
extraordinary  phenomenon.  Sir  Walter  being  in 
London,  an  express  was  immediately  despatched, 
with  whom  the  baronet  returned  in  perfect  health, 
to  the  great  joy  of  his  friends  and  his  family  ;  he 
laughed  heartily  at  the  incident,  but,  to  revenge 
himself  upon  the  painter,  wrote  the  following  epigram, 
and  in  letters  of  gold  inscribed  it  beneath  the  picture  : 

The  art  of  painting  clearly  was  designed, 
To  bring  the  features  of  the  dead  to  mind, 
But  this  damn'd  painter  has  revers'd  the  plan, 
And  made  the  picture  die  before  the  man. 

Sport  rather  than  art  monopolised  the  attention  of 
the  majority  of  the  upper  class. 

The  existence  of  many  country  gentlemen  was 
entirely  concentrated  upon  it,  and  young  squires 
who  were  obliged  to  spend  any  length  of  time  in 
London  used  sometimes  to  behave  in  a  very  queer 
way.  One  of  these  young  gentlemen,  having  been 
obliged  to  proceed  to  town  on  account  of  being 
subprenaed  as  a  witness  in  a  trial  for  an  assault  com- 
mitted upon  one  of  his  gamekeepers,  set  out  for  the 
metropolis  in  great  ill-humour.  Thinking,  however, 
that  some  sport  might  be  attainable  near  London,  he 
did  not  fail  to  take  a  couple  of  dogs  and  his  gun. 
Putting  up  at  an  old-fashioned  hotel,  he  spent  the 
most  part  of  the  day  occupied  at  the  courts,  and 
300 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

became  very  bored.  The  law  business,  his  dinner, 
and  his  loungings  at  the  theatre  being  over,  he  used 
to  come  home  at  about  twelve,  and,  bent  upon 
gratifying  his  sporting  propensities,  never  failed  to 
blow  a  coach  horn,  animate  his  dogs,  fire  two  or  three 
times  out  of  the  window,  and  halloo  in  the  loudest 
tones  for  about  two  hours  before  he  retired  to  bed. 
To  his  satisfaction,  his  room  was  hung  with  old 
arras,  which,  though  in  tatters,  still  exhibited  the 
faded  remains  of  a  stag-hunt.  Before  this  venerable 
tapestry  he  made  his  dogs  bark,  encouraging  them 
with  hunting  cries,  which  highly  delighted  the  ears 
of  the  young  Nimrod.  This  noise,  however,  for 
several  nights  annoyed  the  inmates  of  the  house,  but 
especially  a  country  attorney,  whose  bad  luck  and 
unlucky  star  would  have  it  that  he  should  sleep 
immediately  above  the  turbulent  votary  of  Diana. 
Vainly  he  tried  by  all  possible  means  to  restore  the 
welcome  silence  of  the  night  —  he  remonstrated 
with  the  timid  landlord,  knocked  repeatedly  upon  the 
floor  with  a  stick,  a  chair,  anything  he  had  at  hand, 
but  to  no  purpose.  The  squire  could  not  or  would 
not  hear.  Deprived  of  his  rest,  the  lawyer  at 
last  determined  to  put  an  end,  if  he  could,  to  the 
disturbing  commotion,  and,  mustering  a  bold  counten- 
ance, went  to  meet  the  hunter  in  full  chase.  At  one 
o'clock  he  came  down,  opened  the  door,  and  having, 
with  great  difficulty,  obtained  what  could  hardly  be 
called  silence,  gently  and  politely  represented  his  sad 
case  to  the  squire,  who,  without  turning  from  the 
forest-wrought  arras,  answered,  with  a  sneer,  "  I 
301 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

am  fond  of  hunting,  sir,  and  will  not  give  up  my 
diversion  for  your  sake."  Ill-pleased  with  this  short 
and  peremptory  decree,  the  attorney  returned  to  his 
apartment  in  dudgeon,  and  as  he  could  not  get  a  wink 
of  sleep,  framed  at  last  an  ingenious  and  effective 
plan  of  revenge. 

The  next  day,  having  done  his  business  earlier  than 
usual,  the  attorney  came  to  his  lodgings,  and  sending 
for  a  bricklayer,  expounded  his  scheme.  "  My  man," 
said  he,  "  build  me  directly  before  this  door  a  wall 
about  a  foot  and  a  half  broad,  and  a  foot  high." 

The  fellow  stared,  wondered  at  the  scheme,  but 
soon  obeyed,  and  in  a  little  time  the  task  was  performed. 
Then  a  water-carrier  was  sent  for.  "  My  lad,"  said 
the  attorney,  "  fill  me  up  this  room  with  twenty  pails 
of  water,  and  that  within  two  hours."  The  water- 
carrier  smiled,  nodded,  and  at  about  half-past  eleven 
the  job  was  done. 

Soon  after  the  hunter  came  home,  roused  his  dogs, 
sounded  his  horn,  fired  his  piece  as  usual ;  but 
"  Zounds !  "  exclaimed  he,  "  am  I  caught  in  a  shower  ? 
What  the  devil  is  this  ?  "  Indeed,  a  deluge  of  water 
was  pouring  unmercifully  at  all  points,  on  himself, 
on  his  dogs,  on  his  bed,  and  on  his  very  light,  which 
was  soon  put  out.  Finding  himself  in  the  dark,  wet 
to  the  skin,  and  enraged  at  his  disappointment,  he 
flew  up  the  stairs,  opened  the  door  of  the  lawyer, 
and,  with  the  accompaniment  of  the  most  horrid 
imprecations,  thundered  out,  "  By  all  the  devils  in 
hell,  sirrah,  what  are  you  about  ?  "  The  attorney 
was  in  bed,  a  book  in  one  hand  and  a  fishing-rod  in 
302 


Sporting  Days  ana  Sporting  Ways 

the  other ;  he  turned  deliberately  to  the  squire,  and 
said  with  great  composure,  "  You  are  fond  of  hunting, 
sir,  I  am  fond  of  fishing."  The  squire  bit  his  lips  in 
attempting  to  smile,  went  back  to  his  room,  and 
hunted  no  more. 

The  great  popularity  of  fox-hunting,  without 
doubt,  largely  contributed  to  the  efficiency  of  English 
cavalry  leaders,  and  it  was  said  of  two  celebrated 
generals,  that  they  never  could  have  taken  the  long 
rides  they  did,  or  been  the  active  commanders  they 
were,  had  they  not  been  natural-bred  fox-hunters. 
This  was  the  case  with  Lord  Lake  in  India,  and  with 
the  Duke  of  Wellington  in  Spain.  With  the  latter, 
whenever  the  army  moved  its  quarters,  the  hounds 
were  always  on  the  right  of  the  line. 

A  great  fox-hunter  was  Sir  John  Hill,  of  Hawke- 
stone,  a  veteran  of  the  chase,  aptly  described  as  the 
"  Father  of  Heroes "  and  the  king  of  sportsmen, 
who  for  long  years  after  his  death  lived  in  the  memory 
and  affections  of  many. 

On  the  whole,  the  annals  of  fox-hunting  present 
much  of  which  Englishmen  can  be  proud,  but  one  un- 
pleasant trait  afflicted  only  too  many  of  its  devotees. 
Unfortunately,  fox-hunters  were  only  too  often 
intemperate,  and  the  copious  libations  in  which  they 
indulged  shortened  the  lives  of  many.  Somerville, 
for  instance,  the  sportsman's  own  poet,  whose  Chase 
is  full  of  pure  nature  and  vivid  description,  died  broken 
in  constitution  owing  to  his  indulgence  in  toddy — a 
mixture  of  rum  and  black  currant  jelly,  with  a  very 
sparing  dash  of  water — an  excellent  and  healing 
3°3 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

beverage  after  a  hard  day's  exercise  when  taken 
moderately,  but  in  Somerville's  case  an  insinuating 
poison. 

The  convivial  habits  so  prevalent  amongst  English 
sportsmen  of  a  past  age,  though  they  promoted 
jollity  and  good-fellowship,  without  doubt  often 
brought  a  good  deal  of  sorrow  in  their  train.  Pleasure 
of  every  kind  is  generally  purchased  pretty  dear,  for 
the  gods  "  give  us  nothing,  but  sell  us  all  things," 
and  they  put  a  high  price  on  some  of  their  commodities. 
The  source  of  pleasure  is  not  infrequently  also  the 
source  of  pain.  Nevertheless,  it  will  always  find  a 
market.  The  wisest  course  is  to  treat  it  as  a  con- 
noisseur does  strong  wine  of  rare  vintage,  and  indulge 
with  moderation  at  congenial  intervals,  taking  care, 
however,  to  avoid  deferring  tasting  it  till  too  late, 
when  the  progress  of  years  will  have  impaired  its 
taste. 

Old  newspapers  and  letters  abound  in  records  of 
Bacchanalian  excess,  for  which  reason  it  is  difficult 
for  the  conscientious  chronicler  to  avoid  some  mention 
of  the  drinking  habits  prevalent  in  the  past,  however 
unpalatable  this  may  be  to  the  present  more  moderate 
generation. 

When,  in  a  former  volume,*  the  present  writer 
gave  some  account  of  the  unconventional  habits  which 
formerly  prevailed  amongst  English  sportsmen,  he 
was  in  consequence  roundly  abused  for  dwelling 
upon  vulgar  and  unpleasant  subjects,  and  even  accused 

*   The  Merry  Past. 
304 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

of  sanctioning  drinking  and  debauchery.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  no  one  loathes  intemperance  more  than  he, 
but  in  order  to  give  an  accurate  picture  of  the  life 
of  the  past,  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  touch 
upon  the  excesses  which  brought  so  many  fine  fellows 
to  ruin  and  death. 

Somerville  was  a  sadly  conspicuous  instance  of 
this,  for  as  a  result  of  continued  intemperance  his 
bright  imagination  and  cheerful  mind  were  obscured 
and  overcome  by  the  indulgence  in  what  became  a 
disastrous  vice. 

Though  Beckford  apprehended  that  "  our  friend 
Somerville,"  as  he  called  him,  was  no  great  fox- 
hunter,  there  is  good  reason  for  thinking  that  this 
estimate  was  wrong,  for  Warwickshire,  in  the  sporting 
poet's  day,  was  one  of  the  finest  arenas  for  field  sports 
in  the  country.  Contemporary  evidence,  whilst 
unanimous  as  to  Somerville  having  injured  his  health 
and  fortune  by  his  attachment  to  conviviality  and 
sport,  testifies  that  he  was  thoroughly  conversant 
with  all  phases  of  hunting. 

Somerville's  old  huntsman,  John  Hoitt  by  name,  long 
survived  his  master,  and  having,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven,  in  1804,  expressed  a  fervent  wish  once  more, 
for  the  last  time,  to  hunt  a  pack  of  hounds  and  revive 
the  glories  of  departed  days,  received  permission  from 
Sir  Edward  Smith  to  hunt  as  near  as  possible  to  the 
ancient  house  of  Edstone,  Somerville's  old  home. 
The  muster  was  most  brilliant,  two  hundred  horse- 
men and  as  many  foot  having  assembled.  The  bells 
from  every  neighbouring  steeple  rang  joyfully,  whilst 
x  305 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

the  sun  shone  forth  as  if  in  honour  of  the  weather- 
beaten  huntsman.  Everything  being  ready,  Hoitt, 
dressed  in  his  old  green  plush  coat  (rather  the  worse 
for  wear),  black  cap,  couples  suspended  to  his  belt, 
and  Somerville's  old  whip  in  his  hand,  mounted 
on  a  rough,  but  well-made  pony,  somewhere  about 
fourteen  and  a  half  hands  high,  sounded  his  horn, 
and  thus  addressed  the  company  : 

"  Gentlemen,  I  thank  you  all  for  thus  gratifying 
my  last  wish  in  allowing  me  once  more,  before  I  die, 
to  conduct  the  hounds  myself.  I  am  glad  to  see  so 
many  fine  horses  out.  Gentlemen,  look  well  to  your 
nags,  and  I  doubt  not  you'll  ride  them  well ;  but 
don't  ride  too  near,  and  pray  don't  hurry  the  dogs 
past  the  scent.  Let  them  alone  to  do  their  work 
themselves.  My  little  nag  is  rather  rough,  to  be  sure, 
but  his  wind  is  good,  and  he  must  not  be  despised. 
I'll  take  care  to  save  the  hare,  and  pick  her  up  in 
the  bargain." 

Away  now  went  the  cavalcade,  commanded  by  the 
veteran,  with  the  spirit  and  judgment  of  his  best 
day  ;  and  in  the  course  of  an  hour,  on  a  dry  bank  in  a 
meadow  facing  the  south,  where  the  hounds  had  been 
for  some  time  trailing,  a  hare  was  found,  which, 
after  one  view-halloo,  was  followed  by  horse  and 
foot  the  distance  of  a  mile,  when  a  little  check  took 
place.  At  this,  Hoitt  was  regularly  up  in  his  stirrups, 
his  hounds  had  been  too  much  pressed  upon.  He 
begged  them  all  to  stand  still  and  be  as  silent  "  as 
the  grave  itself  "  ;  and,  casting  back,  he  hit  the  scent 
to  a  lane,  leaping  the  hedge  to  find  where  she  had 
306 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

left  the  road.  The  hounds  now  went  off,  and  after 
running  two  excellent  and  extensive  rings,  ran  into 
her  in  an  hour  and  nine  minutes.  The  old  sportsman 
redeemed  his  pledge  by  picking  up  the  hare  before 
any  other  horseman  was  up  ;  and  on  delivering  it 
to  Sir  Edward  Smith,  exclaimed,  whilst  his  furrowed 
countenance  beamed  with  the  mingled  feelings  of 
gratitude  and  triumph,  "  Sir  Edward,  I  thank  God 
I  have  lived  to  see  this  day.  Gentlemen,  I  thank  you 
all  for  your  attention  and  kindness  to  me.  I  shall 
never  hunt  again,  but  I  shall  now  die  happy.  I  never 
saw  a  better  pack  of  dogs  in  my  life." 

At  a  dinner,  given  after  the  day's  hunting,  Hoitt 
was  called  upon  for  a  toast,  and  gave,  "  To  the 
memory  of  my  old  master,  Somerville  ;  and  may  you 
all,  gentlemen,  enjoy  hunting  as  much  as  he  did,  and 
live  to  enjoy  it  as  long  as  I  have.  Good  health  to  you 
all,  and  God  bless  you  for  ever  !  " 

Hoitt  lived  about  six  years  after  this,  but  activity 
of  mind  and  body  had  left  him,  and  he  sank  into  a 
helpless  state  and  died.  A  simple  epitaph  was 
written  by  the  vicar  of  his  parish,  the  commencement 
of  which  was  as  follows  : 

Here  Hoitt,  all  his  sport  and  labour  past, 
Joins  his  loved  master,  Somervile,  at  last ! 
Together  wont  the  echoing  fields  to  try, 
Together  now  in  silent  dust  they  lie  : 
Tenant  and  Lord,  when  once  we  yield  our  breath, 
Huntsman  and  Poet,  are  alike  in  death. 

Whilst  public  opinion  was  not  hostile  to  the  chase, 
even  in  those  sporting  days,  there  were  certain  counties 
307 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

where  fox-hunting  was  unpopular.  A  great  supporter 
of  the  chase,  chancing  to  meet  the  bailiff  of  a  certain 
peer  owning  much  land  in  such  a  county,  asked  him 
how  the  foxhounds  were  doing  in  his  part  of  the 
world.  "  Why,  sir,"  replied  he,  "  they  han't  been 
down  wi'  us  for  this  two  year,  and  we  hope  they  'on't 
come  no  more,  for  they  aren't  of  no  use,  that  cry  of 
dogs,  to  kill  foxes  with."  "  Very  extraordinary,"  said 
the  bailiff ;  "  and  pray,  why  not  ?  "  "  Why,  sir,"  re- 
joined this  individual,  "  they  found  three  foxes  that 
day  all  laid  up  together,  but  they  could  not  kill  only 
one  on  'em  !  " 

In  1811,  at  the  Rutland  Assizes,  Sir  William 
Manners  had  thirty-five  actions  for  trespass  against 
his  noble  relative,  the  Duke  of  Rutland,  and  the 
gentlemen  of  his  hunt.  Sir  William  seemed  deter- 
mined to  overcome  the  Fox-hunting  Club  in  his 
neighbourhood,  and,  though  no  sportsman  himself, 
showed  great  determination  in  sticking  close  to  their 
brush ! 

In  the  end  an  arrangement  was  made,  by  which 
the  Duke  of  Rutland  compromised  the  actions  for 
trespass  by  letting  Sir  William  Manners  return  his 
own  member  for  Grantham.  This  was  said  to  have 
been  the  first  instance  of  a  sporting  member  intro- 
duced into  the  house — by  hunting. 

In  a  part  of  Scotland  where  a  pack  of  foxhounds 
had  just  been  established,  the  peasantry,  contrary  to 
anticipation,  took  the  keenest  interest  in  the  sport — 
sometimes  they  were  almost  too  keen.  On  one 
occasion,  just  as  the  fox  came  out  of  cover  near  a 
308 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

cottage,  the  owner  was  seen  standing  in  the  doorway, 
gun  in  hand,  his  wife  by  his  side.  Directly  she  caught 
sight  of  Reynard,  she  sang  out,  "  Shoot,  mon,  shoot ! 
Gude  save  us,  for  why  dinna  ye  ca'  him  o'er  ?  What 
the  deel's  in  the  man  ? — he's  surely  dement !  "  Seizing 
a  broomstick,  off  she  dashed  across  the  plough,  but 
soon  had  to  slacken  her  pace,  and,  coming  back  in  a 
furious  mood,  she  added,  "  The  plague  take  ye  for  a 
firerdless  loon,  ye  wi'  a  gun  in  your  han',  and  the 
lourie  just  aneath  your  feet ;  gin  ye  war  na  de'd  it 
yeersel',  cad  ye  na  think  on  the  laird,  puir  gude  mon, 
just  wearin'  himseP  out,  an'  keeping  all  they  rampaging 
hoonds  an'  men  and  horses,  and  braking  neck  day  after 
day,  and  a'  the  gentlemen,  an'  ye  stood  like  a  gowk 
as  ye  are — I  had  a  let  the  tod  kent  ither,  an'  I'd  had 
haud  a  gun." 

About  this  time  an  extraordinary  individual  was 
well  known  to  Scotch  sportsmen.  This  was  a  man 
called  M'Gilvray,  who,  though  blind — having  lost  his 
sight  through  small-pox  at  two  years  of  age — was 
a  good  rider  and  a  well-known  judge  of  horses.  He 
knew  the  good  properties  or  defects  of  a  horse  by 
feeling  all  over  his  frame,  and  gave  a  remarkable 
proof  of  acuteness  in  discovering  a  fine  horse  was 
blind  of  one  eye,  a  failing  never  suspected  by  his 
purchaser.  The  gentleman  had  bought  the  horse  at 
Edinburgh,  and  on  his  way  home  put  up  at  the  inn 
kept  by  William  M'Gilvray's  father.  He  desired  the 
sightless  jockey  to  go  out  and  examine  his  recent 
bargain,  extolling  the  handsome  figure,  the  mettle, 
and  docility  of  the  animal.  M'Gilvray  returned  in 
309 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

half  an  hour,  saying,  "  the  horse  was  all  that  could  be 
wished  if  he  could  see  with  both  eyes."  "  How 
do  you  know  he  does  not  see  ?  "  said  the  gentleman. 
"  I  have  passed  my  hand  over  and  over  that  side  of 
his  head,"  says  he,  "  and  his  eyelids  never  flinch,  but 
on  the  other  side  they  close  instantly."  The  horse 
was  found  to  be  really  blind  of  one  eye,  and  a  blind 
man  was  the  first  to  ascertain  the  imperfection. 

A  very  celebrated  Irish  sporting  character  was 
Owen  Carrol,  a  huntsman  who  died  about  a  century 
ago,  aged  ninety-six,  at  Dufrry  Hall,  Wexford,  the 
seat  of  Caesar  Colclough,  Esq.,  in  whose  family  he 
had  been  in  service  for  nearly  sixty  years.  Originally 
a  farmer,  he  was  so  fond  of  hunting  that  he  always 
kept  a  horse  of  his  own,  and  hunted  with  the  hounds 
of  Colonel  Colclough  for  many  years ;  but  when 
Mr.  Adam  Colclough  set  up  a  pack  of  his  own,  he 
came  and  hunted  his  hounds  at  first  for  his  amusement ; 
but  as  he  lived  at  too  great  a  distance  to  be  always 
regular,  Mr.  Colclough  gave  him  a  farm  near  him, 
and  he  acted  in  the  triple  capacity  of  huntsman, 
steward,  and  master  of  the  family.  During  the 
rebellion,  in  1798,  he  and  his  family  acted  with 
uncommon  fidelity  to  their  employers ;  as  one  of  his 
sons,  when  the  owner  of  Duffry  Hall  was  obliged  to 
fly,  came  down  and  remained  to  protect  the  house  and 
property  ;  and  he  never  quitted  his  post.  Another 
of  his  sons  brought  off  horses  and  clothes  to  his 
master  at  the  risk  of  his  life,  when  he  was  informed 
where  to  find  him ;  and  during  that  period  the  old 
man  buried  a  large  quantity  of  the  family  plate, 
310 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

which  he  afterwards  conveyed  to  a  place  of  safety. 
Until  the  last  year  of  his  life  he  regularly  went  out 
with  the  hounds,  and  his  voice  retained  its  clearness 
and  sweetness ;  he  was  well  known  to  all  sportsmen 
in  that  part  of  Ireland.  Mr.  Kelly,  the  judge,  about 
his  own  age,  towards  the  end  of  Carrol's  life,  spent 
a  day  at  Duffry  Hall,  to  see  and  hunt  with  him.  At 
one  period  the  old  huntsman's  age,  with  that  of 
his  horse,  amounted  to  106  years,  and  yet  neither 
could  be  beaten. 

At  that  time  it  was  a  favourite  custom  in  Ireland  to 
attend  as  many  funerals  as  possible,  and  old  Carrol 
used  to  boast  that  for  seventy  years  he  had  never 
missed  one  within  many  miles  of  where  he  lived. 

In  connection  with  the  Colclough  family,  whom 
Owen  Carrol  so  faithfully  served,  it  may  be  added 
that  Duffry  Hall  is  now  entirely  demolished,  and 
the  last  of  that  branch  of  the  family  which  owned  it 
died  a  railway  porter  at  Liverpool. 

An  extraordinary  instance  of  the  downfall  of  a 
county  family  in  one  generation  was  Hurshaw  Grevis, 
who,  in  1786,  was  summoned  before  a  court  for  a 
debt  of  seventeen  shillings — security  furnished  by  him 
for  a  misdemeanour  of  his  son. 

This  gentleman's  family  had  produced  distinguished 
men,  and  some  of  them  had  been  commanders  under 
Charles  I.  The  Grevises,  indeed,  had  lived  at  Moseley 
Hall  nearly  from  the  Conquest,  and  he  himself  thirty 
years  before  had  cut  a  dashing  figure  in  green  velvet 
at  the  head  of  his  own  pack  of  hounds,  which,  perhaps, 
like  those  of  Actaeon,  devoured  him,orrather  his  fortune. 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  Ways 

On  his  appearance  in  court  his  whole  apparel  could 
not  have  been  worth  more  than  eighteen  pence,  and 
for  years  past  the  gun  with  which  he  loved  to  roam 
over  his  preserves  had  been  exchanged  for  a  spade, 
the  careless  bucks  with  whom  he  had  caroused  for 
common  labourers,  and  his  ancestral  halls  for  a  gravel 
pit,  where  he  was  glad  to  obtain  work. 

The  parish  of  King's  Norton,  in  which  Grevis's 
property  had  been,  was  fatal  to  the  prosperity  of 
county  families.  Five  rich  squires  had  once  resided 
there,  but  at  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  century  it  was 
described  as  a  parish  of  paupers. 

The  fields  over  which  the  unfortunate  Hurshaw 
Grevis  galloped  so  merrily  in  the  days  of  his 
prosperity,  and  where  he  was  afterwards  forced  to 
toil,  now  form  part  of  a  flourishing  suburb  of 
Birmingham. 

Moseley  Hall — burnt  down  by  rioters  in  1791,  and 
rebuilt — has  become  a  children's  convalescent  home, 
the  cost  of  its  conversion  into  this  beneficent  insti- 
tution having  been  borne  by  the  late  Mr.  George 
Cadbury,  who  also  provided  an  endowment. 

Who  knows  but  that  some  of  Hurshaw  Grevis's 
descendants  have  been  restored  to  health  on  the  very 
site  where  their  Cavalier  ancestors  revelled  ? 

The  name  of  Grevis  seems  to  have  disappeared 
from  the  district,  the  only  remaining  memory  of  the 
family  being  a  fine  old  monumental  tomb  in  King's 
Norton  Church,  embellished  with  many  heraldic 
bearings,  including  a  golden  sun  of  prosperity  which 
appears  to  have  for  ever  set. 
312 


Sporting  Days  and  Sporting  W^ays 

Time,  far  more  effectually  than  any  socialistic 
nostrums,  seems  to  bring  all  things  to  a  level.  The 
average  duration  of  a  county  family  is,  I  believe,  not 
more  than,  if  as  much  as,  three  generations. 

Families  rise,  flourish,  and  then  fall.  A  careful 
investigation  as  to  the  descendants  of  quite  a  number 
of  dashing  sportsmen  who  owned  a  broad  expanse  of 
acres  and  caroused  in  their  own  stately  halls,  even  a 
hundred  years  ago,  would  reveal  the  penalty  paid  by 
a  later  generation  for  the  excessive  devotion  of  its 
ancestors  to  the  pleasures  of  those  "sporting  days 
and  sporting  ways,"  some  of  which  the  author  has 
attempted  to  describe. 


INDEX 


a    celebrated    bUfiard 
player,  125-6 
Angloey,  Lord,  240-1 

Baker,  Mr.,  of  Elemore   Hall, 

'33-5 
Barrymore,  the  eccentric   Lord, 

II&-20 

268 

•booting,  236,  241,  242 
Bemeri,  Lord,  *95~7 
Bet,  curious  one  jrf4j»UcJ  by  an 
old  woman,  130 
Ben,  169,  170 

Sir  Wafcer,  anecdote  of, 


Hal,  Norfolk,  257 


22J,  234 

ancient  rales  of,  167,  168 
at  a  £BT,  tragic  anecdote 


thrprrze-Sgfattr,  167- 


B«nn,  Kr.  E.  North,  V 
of  Effing  Fort-,  6A  67 

Cadbvy,tnebce  Mr.  George,  312 


CarroLOwen,   a    £ 

-..'.' 


Clarke,  Mr*.,  a  celebrated  deer,  60 


310,  311 


Country  gentlemen  in  tne   past 


176, 185,  197, 1985 


208 
Cdcfco, 


127,  12* 


Dandy,  anecdote  of  a,  13-18 


, 

62,  64,  66,  67 
!Mi«ftfi»f>,  Prince  Frederick, 


^-> 
Dd6y  HaB,  Wcdbrd,  310,  311 


of  Lord,  255 


Index 


Fairlop  Fair,  163 

Fairs,  155-8 

Featherstonhaugh,  Sir  Harry,  297, 

298 
Fighting  Fitgerald,  anecdote  of, 

80-2 
Fives    Court,    the,    a   resort   of 

sporting  men,  175,  187 

Gambling  anecdotes,  103-14 

Gamekeepers,  253-6 

Game  preservation,  249-54 

Gaming  Houses,  List  of  West 
End,  a  century  ago,  108,  109 

George  IV,  anecdote  of,  12,  233, 
t+I 

Gigs,  9,  10 

Gretna  Green  blacksmith,  anec- 
dotes of,  196 

Grevis  family,  its  downfall,  311, 

312 

Gully,  the  celebrated  prize-fighter 
and  legislator,  200,  201,  224, 
226-31 

Hainault  Forest,  42  ;  destruction 

of,  55,  58,  66 
Harefield     Church,     Middlesex, 

quaint  epitaph  on  outside  wall, 

257 
Hares,    curious    anecdotes   about, 

292-4 
Harrow  Fair  and  Harrow  School, 

163,  164 

Hatchett's  Hotel,  5 
Hawking,  294,  295 
H  ighway  men — Turpin,  W  iltshire, 

Halloran,  Brennan,  68-76 
Hill,  Sir  John,  a  veteran  of  the 

chase,  303 

Hills,  Tom,  huntsman,  48-50 
Hirst,  James,  an  eccentric  char- 
acter, 114-18 


Hoitt,  John,  huntsman  of  Somer- 
ville  the  poet,  305-7  ;  his  epi- 
taph, 307 

Holkham,  bag  at,  in  1811,  248, 
249  ;  eccentric  keeper  at,  255  ; 
a  curious  character  at,  271,  272 

Holt,  John,  a  Tottenham  sports- 
man, 40-3 

Hood,  Tom,  his  verses  on  the 
Epping  Easter  Hunt,  57,  63 

Howard  and  Gibbs,  a  financial 
firm,  24-6 

"  Ingles,"  snares  for  game,  274 
Isle   of  Man,    anecdotes    of  the 

island  when  a  debtors'  refuge, 

27-30 

Jackson,  known  as  Gentleman 
Jackson,  a  famous  star  of  the 
ring,  216,  231,  232 

Jenkins,  Daniel,  a  celebrated 
poacher,  his  career,  282-7 

Jewish  prize-fighters,  190-5 

Johnson-Jeffries  fight,  170 

King's  Norton,  parish  of,  312 

Labourer,  the  agricultural,  anec- 
dotes, etc.,  148-54 

Langan,  a  celebrated  boxer,  213, 
214;  his  fight  with  Spring, 
215-20 

Layton,  11,12 

Limmer's  Hotel,  5,  6 ;  verses 
about,  6,  7 

London  in  the  early  nineteenth 
century,  1-3 

Manners,  Sir  William,  308 
Match,   dangerous  driving,    132, 
133 


316 


Index 


Mellish,  Mr.,  54,  56,  57 
Mendoza,  the  prize-fighter,  190- 

2,  232 

McGilvray,    a    Scotch    sporting 

character,  309,  310 
Molineux,  the  famous  black  prize- 

fighter,   189;    his  two   fights 

with    Cribb,     199-208;     his 

sad  end,  209 
Morland,  the  artist,  and  his  love 

of  boxing,  182,  183 
Mytton,  anecdote  of  Jack,  5 

Nash's,    "Positive    Order"    of 

architecture,  3 
Newton,  Sir  Isaac,   as   a  boxer, 


O'Kelly,  Colonel,  jeu  d*  esprit  as 
to,  124 

Pearce,    William,    the    "Game 

Chicken,"  225-7 
Peers  of  modern  creation,    143, 

144 
Pigeon     shooting,    extraordinary 

match,  131 
Poacher,  a  fashionable,  262  ;  the 

village,  264 
Poachers,    a    band    of,    265-7  ; 

female,     269,     270  ;      quaint 

warning  to,  272,  273-8,  280 
Pointers,     241  ;     anecdotes     of, 

244-7 
Prize-ring,  anecdotes  of,  167 

Q,  Old,  18-20 

Radzivil  Hunt,  an  extraordinary 

day's  sport,  290,  291 
Ragging,  anecdotes  of,  99-102 


Reynolds,  Sir  Joshua,  299 
Reading,  269 

Rose,  of  Kentish  Town,  a  sport- 
ing character,  43,  44 
Rustic  customs,  138-41 
Rutland,  Duke  of,  308 


Sayers,  Tom,  his  historic   battle 

with  Heenan,  233,  234 
Setters,  243,  244 
Seymour,  the  artist,  298,  299 
Shaw,    the    Life    Guardsman,    a 

great  pugilist,  188-90 
Sheep-stealing,    curious    accident 

in  connection  with,  281 
Sherbrooke,  anecdote  of  Sir  John, 

83,84 

Shooting  matches,  128-32 
Shooting  in  the  past,  237-9 
Shot,  a  wonderful,  248 
Smith,  Sir  Edward,  305,  307 
Somerset,  Duke  of,  298 
Somerville,  the  poet,  303-5 
Songs,  old,  159,  1 60 
Sparrow     pudding,     recipe     for, 

268 

Sporting  hotels,  5 
Sporting  tenures  of  land,  ancient, 

263,  264 

Spring,  the  prize-fighter,  209-22 
Stultz,  the  tailor,  1 2 
Surrey  (the  old)  foxhounds,  47- 

5° 

Surrey    hounds    on    Wimbledon 
Common,  51-3 


Tattersall's  a  hundred  years  ago, 
1 2 1-4 

Tetherington,  a  well-known  bet- 
ting man,  epitaph  upon,  124 

Thornton,  Colonel,  his  hunt  in 
Epping  Forest,  59-62 


317 


Index 


Turner,  the   pugilist,   his   career, 
223,  224 

Underwood,     John,     a     curious 

sporting  character,  287-9 
University  life,  anecdotes  of,  95-9 
Up  Park,  Sussex,  297 


Von    Hoffman,    Baron,    an    ad- 
venturer, 30,  31 

Wagram,  the  battle  of,  291,  292 
Waterford,    Lord,    his   eccentri- 


Wellesley 


»  7-9 
ey,  Mr., 


WILLIAM    BRENDON    AND    SON,    LTD. 
PRINTERS,    PLYMOUTH 


A     000025380     7 


